We've all heard the saying, "Nice guys finish last." Well, David Rand and his group of researchers at his Human Cooperation Lab at Yale University are trying to prove that wrong. The subject that is studied at this lab: niceness. The research done at his lab has revealed one constant: "Being collegial is good for both individual workers and for businesses as a whole." According to Rand's research, being nice (Christians might call it gentleness or kindness instead) helps you, even if the other person seems to be undermining you.

One of the best pictures of this is the story of Arthur Demoulas, who got to know his workers and paid them well. He was fired by the Market Basket Board, but all of his employees protested on his behalf. Demoulas is quoted as saying, "If everyone in the workplace is equal and treated with dignity, they work with a little extra passion, a little extra dedication. I think that's a wonderful business message to the world."

Possible Preaching Angle:

As important as "niceness" is in the business world, how much more important is it between brothers and sisters in Christ.