What does the Bible say about procrastination?
Procrastinating about anything is not wise especially when it becomes a habit. It starts off first by procrastinating about one thing then it leads to procrastinating about everything. When you know you have things to do it’s best to organize yourself and make sure those things get done. Pray for help if you’re struggling with this area in your life.
Ways that you can procrastinate
“Because of fear we procrastinate about sharing our faith to people at work.”
“Because of slothfulness you wait for the last moment to do something that needs to be done.”
“We try to wait for the best time to do something rather than doing it now.”
“God tells you to do something, but you delay.”
“Delay in healing a broken relationship and apologizing.”
Christian quotes about procrastination
“Procrastination is the arrogant assumption that God owes you another chance to do tomorrow what he gave you the chance to do today.”
“God has promised forgiveness to your repentance, but He has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination.” Augustine
“Tomorrow is the devil’s day, but today is God’s. Satan does not care how spiritual your intentions are, or how holy your resolutions, if only they are determined to be done tomorrow.” J.C. Ryle
Don’t wait to do it, do it now
1. “Proverbs 6:2 you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth.”
2. Proverbs 6:4 “Don’t put it off; do it now! Don’t rest until you do.”
3. Ecclesiastes 11:3-4 “When clouds are heavy, the rains come down. Whether a tree falls north or south, it stays where it falls. Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.”
4. Proverbs 6:6-8 “Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.”
Laziness and procrastination in the Bible
5. Proverbs 13:4 “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.”
6. Proverbs 12:24 “The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.”
7. Proverbs 20:4 “A lazy person does not plow in the fall. He looks for something in the harvest but finds nothing.”
8. Proverbs 10:4 “Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.”
9. Proverbs 26:14 “As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed.”
Work on time management so you don’t procrastinate
10. Ephesians 5:15-17 “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
11. Colossians 4:5 “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.”
Don’t procrastinate when you owe money, instead pay up
12. Proverbs 3:27-28 “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it” when you have it with you.”
13. Romans 13:7 “Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”
Procrastination on vows
14. Numbers 30:2 “If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.”
15. Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 “When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.”
16. Deuteronomy 23:21 “If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the LORD your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin.”
Reminders
17. James 4:17 “Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.”
18. Ecclesiastes 10:10 “If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed.”
19. John 9:4 “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.”
20. Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Examples of procrastination in the Bible
21. Luke 14:17-18 “When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.”
22. Proverbs 22:13 “The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!”
Bonus
Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”
