Bible Verses About Laziness

What does the Bible say about laziness?

I would like to start off by saying that some people are struggling with laziness, but it’s not because they choose to be slothful. Some people are always tired because of a bad sleeping pattern, sleep deprivation, bad eating, thyroid problems, lack of exercise, etc. If anyone is having trouble with fighting laziness. Check out these things first.

Scripture has a lot to say on this topic. Clearly we see that laziness is a sin and it also leads to poverty.

Some people would rather sleep in their bed all day rather than making a living and that will be their downfall. Laziness is a curse, but work is a blessing.

God worked for 6 days and on the 7th day He rested. God put Adam in the garden to work and take care of it. God provides for us through work. Since the beginning we were commanded to work.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.”

Being a sloth brings down your confidence and motivation. Slowly you start growing a bum mentality. It can soon turn into a disastrous lifestyle for some.

We have to grasp the concept of working hard. There is always something to do, but sometimes we would rather procrastinate. The gospel always needs to be preached.

Work hard in everything you do because working always brings profit, but too much sleep brings disappointment and shame. When you’re lazy not only do you suffer, but other people suffer as a result of it. Work to help others. Ask the Lord to strengthen your hands and to remove any slothfulness in your body.

Christian quotes about laziness

“Hard work pays off in the future but laziness pays off now.”

“Many say they can’t get God’s guidance, when they really mean they wish He would show them an easier way.” Winkie Pratney

“A man would do nothing if he waited until he could do it so well that no one could find fault.” John Henry Newman

“Work is always healthier for us than idleness; it is always better to wear out shoes than sheets.” C. H. Spurgeon

“Laziness may appear attractive but work gives satisfaction.” Anne Frank

“Do not be lazy. Run each day’s race with all your might, so that at the end you will receive the victory wreath from God. Keep on running even when you have had a fall. The victory wreath is won by him who does not stay down, but always gets up again, grasps the banner of faith and keeps on running in the assurance that Jesus is Victor.” Basilea Schlink

“The lazy Christian has his mouth full of complaints, when the active Christian has his heart full of comforts.” — Thomas Brooks

“By doing nothing men learn to do evil things. It is easy slipping out of an idle life into an evil and wicked life. Yes, an idle life is of itself evil, for man was made to be active, not to be idle. Idleness is a mother-sin, a breeding-sin; it is the devil’s cushion – on which he sits; and the devil’s anvil – on which he frames very great and very many sins.” Thomas Brooks

“The devil visits idle men with his temptations. God visits industrious men with His favors.” Matthew Henry

“The Christian ministry is difficult, and we must not be lazy or trite. However, we often place burdens upon ourselves and make demands upon ourselves that are not according to the will of God. The more I know God and understand His perfect work on my behalf, the more I am able to rest.” Paul Washer

The 3 types of laziness 

Physical – Neglecting work and duties.

Mental – Common among kids in school. Taking the easy way out. Trying to take shortcuts. Get rich quick schemes.

Spiritual – Neglecting to pray, read Scripture, use God-given talents, etc.

What does God say about laziness?

1. Proverbs 15:19 The path of lazy people is like a thorny hedge, but the road of decent people is an [open] highway.

2. Proverbs 26:14-16 Like a door on its hinges, a lazy man turns back and forth on his bed. Lazy people are too lazy to lift the food from their plate to their mouth. Lazy people think they are seven times smarter than the people who really have good sense.

3. Proverbs 18:9 Whoever is lazy regarding his work is also a brother to the master of destruction.

4. Proverbs 10:26-27 Lazy people irritate their employers, like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes. Fear of the LORD lengthens one’s life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.

5. Ezekiel 16:49 Sodom’s sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door.

6. Proverbs 19:24 “A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.”

7. Proverbs 21:25 “The desire of the lazy man kills him, For his hands refuse to labor.”

8. Proverbs 22:13 “The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion out there! If I go outside, I might be killed!”

9. Ecclesiastes 10:18 “Laziness leads to a sagging roof; idleness leads to a leaky house.”

10. Proverbs 31:25-27 “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. 26 When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. 27 She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.”

Follow the example of the ant.

11. Proverbs 6:6-9 You lazy people, you should watch what the ants do and learn from them. Ants have no ruler, no boss, and no leader. But in the summer, ants gather all of their food and save it. So when winter comes, there is plenty to eat. You lazy people, how long are you going to lie there? When will you get up?

We are to put off laziness and we are to be hard workers.

12. Proverbs 10:4-5 Lazy hands bring poverty, but hard-working hands lead to wealth. Whoever harvests during summer acts wisely, but the son who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful.

13. Proverbs 13:4 The appetite of the sluggard craves but gets nothing, but the desire of the diligent will be abundantly satisfied.

14. Proverbs 12:27 The lazy do not roast any game, but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.

15. Proverbs 12:24 Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.

16. Proverbs 14:23 “All   brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”

17. Revelation 2:2 “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.”

Poverty is the result of the continuous sin of laziness. 

18. Proverbs 20:13 If you love sleep, you will end in poverty. Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat!

19. Proverbs 21:5 Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.

20. Proverbs 21:25 Despite their desires, the lazy will come to ruin, for their hands refuse to work.

21. Proverbs 20:4 The slacker does not plow during planting season; at harvest time he looks, and there is nothing.

22. Proverbs 19:15 Laziness throws one into a deep sleep, and an idle person will go hungry.

23. 1 Timothy 5:8 If anyone does not take care of his own relatives, especially his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

A godly woman is not lazy.

24. Proverbs 31:13 “She seeks out wool and linen [with care] and works with willing hands.”

25. Proverbs 31:16-17 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

26. Proverbs 31:19 Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber.

Reminders

27. Ephesians 5:15-16 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.

28. Hebrews 6:12 “We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.”

29. Romans 12:11 “Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.”

30. Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly as though you were doing it for the Lord and not merely for people.

31. 1 Thessalonians 4:11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you.

32. Ephesians 4:28 The thief must no longer steal. Instead, he must do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need.

33. 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Slothfulness leads to procrastination and excuses.

34. Proverbs 22:13 The slacker says, “There’s a lion outside! I’ll be killed in the public square!”

35. Proverbs 26:13 The lazy person claims, “There is a lion in the road! There’s a lion in the streets!”

Examples of laziness in the Bible

36. Titus 1:12 “One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.”

37 Matthew 25:24-30 Then the servant who had been given one bag of gold came to the master and said, ‘Master, I knew that you were a hard man. You harvest things you did not plant. You gather crops where you did not sow any seed. So I was afraid and went and hid your money in the ground. Here is your bag of gold. The master answered, ‘You are a wicked and lazy servant! You say you knew that I harvest things I did not plant and that I gather crops where I did not sow any seed. So you should have put my gold in the bank. Then, when I came home, I would have received my gold back with interest. “So the master told his other servants, ‘Take the bag of gold from that servant and give it to the servant who has ten bags of gold. Those who have much will get more, and they will have much more than they need. But those who do not have much will have everything taken away from them.’ Then the master said, ‘Throw that useless servant outside, into the darkness where people will cry and grind their teeth with pain.’

38. Exodus 5:17 “But Pharaoh shouted, “You’re just lazy! Lazy! That’s why you’re saying, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifices to the LORD.”

39. Proverbs 24:30-32 “I passed by the field of the lazy man, by the grape-vines of the man without understanding. 31 And see, it was all grown over with thorns. The ground was covered with weeds, and its stone wall was broken down. 32 When I saw it, I thought about it. I looked and received teaching.”

40. Ezekiel 16:49 “Sodom’s sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door.”