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Sloth

Passage for Study: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

Modern connotations for Sloth lean toward idleness, laziness, and an almost desirable "laid-backness." Sloth, however, is much more insidious. According to Dorothy L. Sayers, "In the world it is called Tolerance, but in hell it is called Despair. It is the sin that believes in nothing, cares for nothing, seeks to know nothing, interferes with nothing, lives for nothing, enjoys nothing, hates nothing, finds purpose in nothing, and remains alive because there is nothing for which it will die."

How can a Christian avoid this despair? "Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise" (Proverbs 6:6). Stepping on an ant hill, besides being cruel, is also an exercise in futility. The industrious ants continuously rebuild their ruined homes until the destroyer grows bored and leaves them alone. Diligence wines their battles. Likewise, diligence must be a part of our characters if we are to conquer slothfulness and experience the rewards promised by Scripture: riches, authority, spiritual maturity, goodness, and favor in society (Proverbs 10:4; 11:27; 12: 24, 27; 13:4; and 22:29).

1. Read verse 6. Why are Christians commanded to "keep away from" and "not associate with" fellow Christians who have an idle lifestyle?


2. What is the role model described here in verses 7-9? How important is it for Jesus' followers to have role models?


3. See verse 10. If it were applied to society, what implications would this principle have? What is the basis for this standard? (Cf. Genesis 3:19) Do you agree with it?


4. In verse 11, what is a "busybody"? How is it a form of disobedience to God?


5. From verses 12-15, what response should we make to idle believers? How can our work be an act of worship?

Greed

Passage for Study: Luke 12:13-21

John is a young lawyer with excellent academic credentials, a sole practitioner in a small city. During his first five years after law school, he was able to build his practice to support his wife and two young children comfortably. Unexpectedly, he was given an opportunity to represent Acme, Inc., one of the city's leading companies, in a piece of commercial litigation. John had the skills to handle the Acme case, but realized that a larger firm would be better equipped to deal with such a complex piece of work. Nevertheless, because he felt that success in this case would go a long way to establish his professional reputation, he accepted the client.

At first, by pushing himself to his limits, John was able to maintain the quality of his practice while handling the Acme litigation. Only his health and relationships with his family suffered. As time went on, however, John was consumed by the demands of the one case, letting his representation of other clients suffer. One by one, his steady, smaller clients left him for lawyers who were more attentive to their needs. At last, the Acme litigation ended victoriously, but John's reputation among his clients was so poor that even the victory could not save his practice. He was left with one good-sized fee, a dissolving family, and a shambles of a professional life.

1. Greed is an "excessive desire for more than one needs or deserves." What are the different kinds of greed found in the legal arena? In what way is the case study an example of greed?


2. A senior partner may see greed as a healthy motivator for young associates. Is this wrong? Why or why not?


3. Check verse 15. If materialism is an "out of focus" perspective on life, what is a proper perspective? (Compare Psalms 49 and 52.)


4. What are the legal profession's "bigger barns"? What are the pitfalls of such empire building? Was the Acme, Inc., case a bigger barn?


5. What is the setting for verse 19? Why is a "take life easy...be merry" philosophy objectionable?


6. Use verse 20 for career evaluations. If you were to submit a resume to God, The Senior Partner, what would it say?


7. Check verse 21. How does a lawyer or a law student become "rich toward God"? Compare this verse with verses 33 and 34.

Gluttony

Passage for Study: Philippians 3:10-21

While not often discussed, Gluttony is a commonplace sin in our society. Webster's Dictionary defines a glutton as "one given habitually to greedy and voracious eating and drinking." Gluttony's connotations also extend beyond this simple definition. The thing the glutton consumes is not so important as the reason why he or she consumes it and the consequences of this behavior for the glutton and his or her relationship with others and with God. The glutton consumes more than what is needed because the glutton is looking for an escape from the boredom and emptiness. Compared to most people in the world, Americans live an affluent lifestyle. With affluence comes boredom that causes many to bury themselves in some over-indulgence (like food, diets, fads, or television) to take their minds of their emptiness.

Perhaps lawyers can identify with the glutton because lawyers habitually engage in an extra high level of activity. As lawyers juggle tight deadlines and numerous competing clients, cases, and other concerns, escape can become an obsession. It is well documented that workaholism, alcoholism, drug use, and overeating are common ways that lawyers "escape."

1. Review verses 10-16. What "goal" do you think Paul is pressing toward?


2. In verses 15-17, what does Paul exhort Christians to do?


3. Check verse 18. What words in the passage emphasize how important Paul thinks his exhortation is?


4. Read verses 18-19. List the characteristics of those who "live as enemies of the cross of Christ." Do any of these characteristics refer to gluttony? How?


5. See Proverbs 23:20-21. What are the consequences of gluttony? Here are some more: isolation, waste, ingratitude to God, lack of concern for others, and an inability to appreciate or respect the beauty of creation. How does gluttony create each of these consequences?


6. In Philippians 3:20-21, what hope do we have as Christians to end the cycle of emptiness that causes gluttony?


7. Think of ways that you "escape" the stresses of law school. How would God rate them? Review Philippians 3:12-17. What goal are you pressing toward that will help you to put the stressful demands of law school and law practice into perspective?

Lust

Passage for Study: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

If lust is considered merely a strong sexual attraction to another person, what harm could it be? Lust is an illicit, inordinate, or unbridled desire to engage in sexual relations outside of God's revealed will (Matthew 5:27-28). Unlike with the six other deadly sins, God condemns both the desire and the actions that result from Lust. Lust is a perversion of God's will concerning sex and our sexual desires. The motive of Lust is self-gratification at the expense of others, at the expense of a relationship with God, and even to the detriment of self. Just as anger easily gives way to sin, sexual immorality flows out of lust (James 1:13-15).

Like everyone, lawyers are vulnerable to the temptations of Lust. Through the media, sexual titillation has becomes a profitable business in our society and in a way, we have all become voyeurs in a national pastime created to feed our lusts.

1. Read verses 1-3, 7. How does God want Christians to live? What do you think it means to "be holy"? What relationship does sexual immorality have with being holy?


2. The Greek word "porneia," translated "sexual immorality," is broad and includes sexual practices outside of God’s revealed will. What practices are sexually immoral? Why do you think God says they are contrary to his will? See Hebrews 13:4, 1 Corinthians 5:1, 6:15, 7:1-2, Romans 1:27.


3. In verses 4-5, with whose behavior is ours to be contrasted? Also see Colossians 3:5 and 1 Peter 4:3.


4. Consider how lust creates each of the following consequences and why they are devastating.

a. See verse 8 and 1 Corinthians 6:12-20.

b. Review verse 6. In Henry Farilie’s words, "Lust is not interested in its partners, but only in the gratification of its own craving." How does Proverbs 6:26 illustrate this consequence of Lust?

c. Isolation, disloyalty, impulsiveness, love of worldly pleasures.

5. Can you think of instances in law school and in legal practice where Lust can become a temptation? How will you deal with the temptations you may face?

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