19 Bible Verses about Procrastination
Most Relevant Verses
if you have been ensnared by the words you have uttered, and have been caught by the words you have spoken,
If the clouds are full of rain, they will empty themselves on the earth, and whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, the tree will lie wherever it falls. He who watches the wind will not sow, and he who observes the clouds will not reap.
Go to the ant, you sluggard; observe its ways and be wise! It has no commander, overseer, or ruler, yet it prepares its food in the summer; it gathers at the harvest what it will eat.
"Do not hold back offerings from your granaries or your vats. You must give me the firstborn of your sons.
When you make a vow to the Lord your God you must not delay in fulfilling it, for otherwise he will surely hold you accountable as a sinner.
The way of the sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is like a highway.
The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the middle of the streets!"
The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! A lion in the streets!" Like a door that turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed. The sluggard plunges his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
Do not boast about tomorrow; for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
When you make a vow to God, do not delay in paying it. For God takes no pleasure in fools: Pay what you vow!
Another of the disciples said to him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of the virgins were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish ones took their lamps, they did not take extra olive oil with them.read more.
But the wise ones took flasks of olive oil with their lamps. When the bridegroom was delayed a long time, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. But at midnight there was a shout, 'Look, the bridegroom is here! Come out to meet him.' Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.' No,' they replied. 'There won't be enough for you and for us. Go instead to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' But while they had gone to buy it, the bridegroom arrived, and those who were ready went inside with him to the wedding banquet. Then the door was shut. Later, the other virgins came too, saying, 'Lord, lord! Let us in!' But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I do not know you!'
Jesus said to another, "Follow me." But he replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Yet another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to my family."read more.
Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
Now someone came up to him and said, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to gain eternal life?" He said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." "Which ones?" he asked. Jesus replied, "Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,read more.
honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself." The young man said to him, "I have wholeheartedly obeyed all these laws. What do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." But when the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he was very rich.
So here is my opinion on this matter: It is to your advantage, since you made a good start last year both in your giving and your desire to give, to finish what you started, so that just as you wanted to do it eagerly, you can also complete it according to your means. For if the eagerness is present, the gift itself is acceptable according to whatever one has, not according to what he does not have.read more.
For I do not say this so there would be relief for others and suffering for you, but as a matter of equality. At the present time, your abundance will meet their need, so that one day their abundance may also meet your need, and thus there may be equality,
The one who stiffens his neck after numerous rebukes will suddenly be destroyed without remedy.
Now because we are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
Show the Lord your God the respect that is due him. Do it before he brings the darkness of disaster. Do it before you stumble into distress like a traveler on the mountains at twilight. Do it before he turns the light of deliverance you hope for into the darkness and gloom of exile.
From Thematic Bible
Procrastination » To be avoided in » Performance of vows
When you make a vow to God, do not delay in paying it. For God takes no pleasure in fools: Pay what you vow!
When you make a vow to the Lord your God you must not delay in fulfilling it, for otherwise he will surely hold you accountable as a sinner.
Procrastination » Danger of, illustrated
Reach agreement quickly with your accuser while on the way to court, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the warden, and you will be thrown into prison.
Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, then you will stand outside and start to knock on the door and beg him, 'Lord, let us in!' But he will answer you, 'I don't know where you come from.'
Procrastination » Saints avoid
Procrastination » Causes of » Family cares
Another of the disciples said to him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."
Yet another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to my family."
Procrastination » Motives for avoiding » The present the accepted time
For he says, "I heard you at the acceptable time, and in the day of salvation I helped you." Look, now is the acceptable time; look, 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 -- before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you will say, "I have no pleasure in them";
Procrastination » To be avoided in » Glorifying God
Show the Lord your God the respect that is due him. Do it before he brings the darkness of disaster. Do it before you stumble into distress like a traveler on the mountains at twilight. Do it before he turns the light of deliverance you hope for into the darkness and gloom of exile.
Procrastination » Motives for avoiding » The uncertainty of life
Do not boast about tomorrow; for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
Procrastination » Causes of » Worldly entanglements
When Lot hesitated, the men grabbed his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters because the Lord had compassion on them. They led them away and placed them outside the city.
Procrastination » Exemplified
When Lot hesitated, the men grabbed his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters because the Lord had compassion on them. They led them away and placed them outside the city.
Procrastination » To be avoided in » Keeping God's commandments
Procrastination » To be avoided in » Making offerings to God
"Do not hold back offerings from your granaries or your vats. You must give me the firstborn of your sons.
Procrastination » To be avoided in » Hearkening to God
For he is our God; we are the people of his pasture, the sheep he owns. Today, if only you would obey him! He says, "Do not be stubborn like they were at Meribah, like they were that day at Massah in the wilderness,
Procrastination » Instances of » Elisha
He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, then I will follow you." Elijah said to him, "Go back! Indeed, what have I done to you?" Elisha went back and took his pair of oxen and slaughtered them. He cooked the meat over a fire that he made by burning the harness and yoke. He gave the people meat and they ate. Then he got up and followed Elijah and became his assistant.
Procrastination » Condemned by Christ
Jesus said to another, "Follow me." But he replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Yet another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to my family." read more.
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
Seek the Lord while he makes himself available; call to him while he is nearby!
Procrastination » Exemplified » Felix
While Paul was discussing righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, "Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, I will send for you."
Procrastination » Causes of » Personal convenience
While Paul was discussing righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, "Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, I will send for you."
Procrastination » Causes of » Unbelief
Now when they heard about the resurrection from the dead, some began to scoff, but others said, "We will hear you again about this."
Procrastination » Instances of » Pharaoh
He said, "Tomorrow." And Moses said, "It will be as you say, so that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God.
Procrastination » Instances of » Esther
If I have found favor in the king's sight and if the king is inclined to grant my request and perform my petition, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet that I will prepare for them. At that time I will do as the king wishes.
Salvation » Neglect of » Procrastination
While Paul was discussing righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, "Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, I will send for you."
