Is Procrastination a Sin?

Is procrastination a sin or simply a habit? What does the Bible say about procrastination? Read more to find out the answer.

Is Procrastination a Sin?

The word “procrastination” isn’t in the Bible, so this is an area where Christians need to use wisdom and discernment.

1. Yes, absolutely, some Christians would say. Our time and talents are gift from God and not to be wasted.
2. No, procrastination is a bad habit but nothing more, other people will answer. God hardwired each of us with different personalities and some people work better under pressure.
3. Let me get back to this after I’ve had coffee and cleared off my desk, say the procrastinators in the world.

While the Bible doesn’t specifically tell us if procrastination is a sin or not, God’s Word is clear that we are to guard against laziness and sloth. Proverbs 15:19 says, “The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway.”

Yet we know that procrastination is not always the same as being lazy.

Procrastination can come from:

• fear of failure
• perfectionism
• self-sabotage
• neurodiversity (such as ADHD)
• depression
• low self-esteem
• lack of planning ahead or understanding of time
• decision fatigue

If procrastination is complex, how do we decide if it is sinful?

When it comes to spiritual matters, the Bible is clear that we are to share the gospel with others and without delay. This is one area where we absolutely must not procrastinate (Luke 12:40, Matthew 25:1-13)

When a Loved One or Co-Worker is a Procrastinator

For twenty-five years, I have been married to a procrastinator. My husband is a laid-back, creative explorer and the last minute has his signature on it.

I am a to-do-list loving, organized captain of the family ship that keeps our five children afloat and the house running smoothly. Just the thought of putting a project off until the very end causes a cold sweat to break out on my upper lip.

We could chalk this up to personality differences, or typical marital conflict to be hashed out, but does God have an opinion about procrastination? Or more to my curiosity, is God telling my husband to cut out his bad behavior?

What Does the Bible Say about Procrastination?

Procrastination is defined as “the act of willfully delaying the doing of something that should be done,” or another, “to put off doing something, especially out of habitual carelessness or laziness.”

While the word “procrastinate” is not specifically in the Bible, Colossians 3:23 (ESV) tells us, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”

The book of Proverbs has much to say about the importance of hard work and is especially stern about laziness, such as Proverbs 12:24, “The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.”

God highly values our work and expects us to do it to the best of our ability.

Yes, procrastination is a sin. Our time and talents are indeed gifts from God and not to be wasted. When we put tasks off until the last minute, doing our best work is rarely the result.

Sins Involved in Procrastination and Overscheduling

We schedulers of the world are this moment tempted to hold our calendars as shields and wave our to-do lists as banners with a cheer of, “See, we told you so!”

Yet the discussion of sinful procrastination is not quite over.

When life does not go according to my carefully color-coded plans (as happens mostly always), I become ugly. I snap at my kids, boss around my husband as if he were a child, sigh a lot, and say things like, “fine! I guess I’ll just do it myself!” in unloving ways.

What is behind procrastination? Perfectionism. Pride. Overscheduling. Anger. Fear.

What is behind my hyper-zealous schedule management? Perfectionism. Pride. Overscheduling. Anger. Fear.

Humble me, Lord.

Jesus’ Words for Procrastinators and Perfectionists

In John 8:1-11, the Pharisees and scribes bring a woman to Jesus who had committed adultery, with the plan to stone her to death and test Jesus’ teaching. Verses 7-8 (ESV) say, “And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, ‘Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.’  And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one.”

The Bible does not record what Jesus wrote in the dust. Was it the names of the men who had committed adultery with this woman? Perhaps it was the names of the men standing right there with stones in their hands? Maybe it was a record of their own unique personal sins?

My impatient sighs are a stone. My judgmental assumptions about my husband’s procrastination tendencies are a stone.

Perhaps you see my organized ways as too controlling or taking the fun out of life. That is your stone. Stepping in to rescue, fix, or appease someone else’s situation is also a stone.

Jesus is calling you to drop your stone.

The times you have been judged for putting a project off and scrambling to get it done, Jesus speaks to you as he did to the woman kneeling in the dust. For the situations where you have been accused of being an uptight control freak, Jesus comes to you.

For our perfectionism, pride, overscheduling, anger, and fear, Jesus comes to us.

“Jesus stood up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.’” (John 8:10-11)

5 Bible Verses for Procrastinators

If you struggle with procrastination, meditate on these verses.

1. Matthew 25:1-13
2. Luke 12:40
3. Proverbs 12:24
4. Colossians 3:23
5. John 8:1-11

Do You Use Procrastination to Self-Sabotage?

Is it possible that you use procrastination as a form of self-sabotage, especially with your weight loss or healthy living goals? Use our free assessment to find out.

Are you a procrastinator or over-scheduler who holds tight to your to-do list? Share about it in the comments below.

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