What Does the Bible Say About Being Slothful?

Galatians 5:13 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Proverbs 31:1-31 ESV / 3 helpful votes

The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him: What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows? Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted. ...

Revelation 3:15-16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

2 Peter 1:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,

1 Peter 4:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

James 4:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Hebrews 9:27 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

Hebrews 6:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

So that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Hebrews 6:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end,

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

Colossians 1:28-29 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

Ephesians 6:6-7 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man,

Ephesians 1:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

Galatians 3:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—

1 Corinthians 15:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

1 Corinthians 11:1-34 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. ...

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV / 2 helpful votes

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 3:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.

Romans 16:17-18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

Romans 15:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Romans 12:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

Romans 12:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Romans 11:33 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

Romans 10:1-21 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. ...

Romans 7:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.

Romans 7:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.

Romans 6:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 3:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

Romans 1:1-32 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, ...

John 14:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 6:26 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.

John 3:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

John 3:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:1-36 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ...

Luke 10:27 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

Matthew 19:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.”

Matthew 18:1-35 ESV / 2 helpful votes

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, ...

Matthew 13:1-58 ESV / 2 helpful votes

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, ...

Matthew 5:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Matthew 5:1-48 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. ...

Matthew 3:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.

Jeremiah 29:13-14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.

Proverbs 31:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.

Proverbs 24:33 ESV / 2 helpful votes

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,

Proverbs 24:30 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense,

Proverbs 24:30-34 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

Proverbs 21:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.

Proverbs 21:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

One who wanders from the way of good sense will rest in the assembly of the dead.

Proverbs 21:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

Proverbs 20:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

Proverbs 18:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.

Proverbs 12:27 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Whoever is slothful will not roast his game, but the diligent man will get precious wealth.

Proverbs 9:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Genesis 1:1-31 ESV / 2 helpful votes

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. ...

57 Bible Verses about Being Slothful

Galatians 5:13 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 31:1-31 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 3:15-16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Peter 1:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 4:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 4:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 9:27 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 6:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 6:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 1:28-29 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 6:6-7 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 1:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 3:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 15:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 11:1-34 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 3:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 16:17-18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 15:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 12:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 12:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 11:33 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 10:1-21 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 7:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 7:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 6:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 3:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 1:1-32 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 14:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 6:26 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:1-36 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 10:27 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 19:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 18:1-35 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 13:1-58 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:1-48 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 3:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Jeremiah 29:13-14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 31:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 24:33 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 24:30 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 24:30-34 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 21:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 21:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 21:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 20:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 18:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 12:27 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 9:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 1:1-31 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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