19 Bible Verses about Procrastination
Most Relevant Verses
you have been trapped by the words of your lips—
ensnared by the words of your mouth.
If the clouds are full, they will pour out rain on the earth;
whether a tree falls to the south or the north,
the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.
One who watches the wind will not sow,
and the one who looks at the clouds will not reap.
Go to the ant, you slacker!
Observe its ways and become wise.
Without leader, administrator, or ruler,
it prepares its provisions in summer;
it gathers its food during harvest.
“You must not hold back offerings from your harvest or your vats. Give Me the firstborn of your sons.
“If you make a vow to the Lord your God, do not be slow to keep it, because He will require it of you, and it will be counted against you as sin.
A slacker’s way is like a thorny hedge,
but the path of the upright is a highway.
The slacker says, “There’s a lion outside!
I’ll be killed in the public square!”
The slacker says, “There’s a lion in the road—
a lion in the public square!”
A door turns on its hinges,
and a slacker, on his bed.
The slacker buries his hand in the bowl;
he is too weary to bring it to his mouth.
When you make a vow to God, don’t delay fulfilling it, because He does not delight in fools. Fulfill what you vow.
“Lord,” another of His disciples said, “first let me go bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like 10 virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. Five of them were foolish and five were sensible. When the foolish took their lamps, they didn’t take olive oil with them. read more.
But the sensible ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps. Since the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. “In the middle of the night there was a shout: ‘Here’s the groom! Come out to meet him.’ “Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. But the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ “The sensible ones answered, ‘No, there won’t be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell, and buy oil for yourselves.’ “When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived. Then those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. “Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, ‘Master, master, open up for us!’ “But he replied, ‘I assure you: I do not know you!’
Then He said to another, “Follow Me.”
“Lord,” he said, “first let me go bury my father.” But He told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.” Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to those at my house.” read more.
But Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Just then someone came up and asked Him, “Teacher, what good must I do to have eternal life?” “Why do you ask Me about what is good?” He said to him. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he asked Him. Jesus answered:
Do not murder;
do not commit adultery;
do not steal;
do not bear false witness;
read more.
honor your father and your mother;
and love your neighbor as yourself. “I have kept all these,” the young man told Him. “What do I still lack?” “If you want to be perfect,” Jesus said to him, “go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” When the young man heard that command, he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.
Now I am giving an opinion on this because it is profitable for you, who a year ago began not only to do something but also to desire it. But now finish the task as well, that just as there was eagerness to desire it, so there may also be a completion from what you have. For if the eagerness is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. read more.
It is not that there may be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality— at the present time your surplus is available for their need, so their abundance may also become available for our need, so there may be equality.
One who becomes stiff-necked,
after many reprimands
will be shattered instantly—
beyond recovery.
Working together with Him, we also appeal to you, “Don’t receive God’s grace in vain.”
Give glory to the Lord your God
before He brings darkness,
before your feet stumble
on the mountains at dusk.
You wait for light,
but He brings darkest gloom
and makes thick darkness.
From Thematic Bible
Procrastination » To be avoided in » Performance of vows
When you make a vow to God,
“If you make a vow to the Lord your God, do not be slow to keep it, because He will require it of you, and it will be counted against you as sin.
Procrastination » Danger of, illustrated
Procrastination » Saints avoid
Procrastination » Causes of » Family cares
Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to those at my house.”
Procrastination » Motives for avoiding » The present the accepted time
For He says:
and I helped you in the day of salvation.
Look, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation.
Procrastination » Motives for avoiding » The present the best time
So remember your Creator in the days of your youth:
and the years approach when you will say,
“I have no delight in them”;
Procrastination » To be avoided in » Glorifying God
before He brings darkness,
before your feet stumble
on the mountains at dusk.
You wait for light,
but He brings darkest gloom
and makes thick darkness.
Procrastination » Motives for avoiding » The uncertainty of life
Procrastination » Causes of » Worldly entanglements
But he hesitated. Because of the Lord’s compassion for him, the men grabbed his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters. Then they brought him out and left him outside the city.
Procrastination » Exemplified
But he hesitated. Because of the Lord’s compassion for him, the men grabbed his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters. Then they brought him out and left him outside the city.
Procrastination » To be avoided in » Keeping God's commandments
Procrastination » To be avoided in » Making offerings to God
“You must not hold back offerings
Procrastination » To be avoided in » Hearkening to God
For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, the sheep under His care. Today, if you hear His voice: "Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as on that day at Massah in the wilderness
Procrastination » Instances of » Elisha
Elisha left the oxen, ran to follow Elijah, and said, "Please let me kiss my father and mother, and then I will follow you." "Go on back," he replied, "for what have I done to you?" So he turned back from following him, took the team of oxen, and slaughtered them. With the oxen's wooden yoke and plow, he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he left, followed Elijah, and served him.
Procrastination » Condemned by Christ
Then He said to another, "Follow Me." "Lord," he said, "first let me go bury my father." But He told him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God." Another also said, "I will follow You, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to those at my house." read more.
But Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
Procrastination » To be avoided in » Seeking God
Procrastination » Exemplified » Felix
Now as he spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come,
Procrastination » Causes of » Personal convenience
Now as he spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come,
Procrastination » Causes of » Unbelief
When they heard about resurrection of the dead, some began to ridicule him. But others said, “We’d like to hear from you again about this.”
Procrastination » Instances of » Pharaoh
“Tomorrow,” he answered.
Moses replied, “As you have said, so you may know there is no one like Yahweh our God,
Procrastination » Instances of » Esther
If the king approves of me
Salvation » Neglect of » Procrastination
Now as he spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come,
