Why do I procrastinate? And is it really so bad? - Procrastination - TouchPoints

Proverbs 6:6-11Take 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. But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.

A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will pounce on you like a bandit . .

Procrastination is often a form of laziness which the Bible calls sin. If worry is taking responsibility for things over which you have no control, then procrastination is not taking responsibility for things over which you do have some control.

Jonah 1:1-3But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction in order to get away from the Lord . . .

Jonah practiced active procrastination. He was charged to go one direction and he went the opposite way. Fear of the cost of obeying God can paralyze you or cause you to run from God and waste the very resources and talents he has given you. Don’t put off doing, or run away from, what you know God wants you to do.

Matthew 25:14-30I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth . . .

Fear of failure can make a task hard to get started. It’s better to try and fail a couple times than to never try at all. Blaming God for the assignment and resources he gives you will not work as an excuse for failure to carry out your duties.

Psalm 143:7Come quickly, Lord, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don’t turn away from me, or I will die.

Depression is often a cause of procrastination. In the midst of depression it is difficult to do anything. The psalmists were survivors because they called out to God no matter what conditions they were in.

1 Thessalonians 3:5That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the Tempter had gotten the best of you and that all our work had been useless.

2 Corinthians 2:11so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are very familiar with his evil schemes.

Luke 8:13The rocky soil represents those who hear the message with joy. But like young plants in such soil, their roots don’t go very deep. They believe for a while, but they wilt when the hot winds of testing blow.

Temptation can cause you to procrastinate because Satan’s strategy is to distract you from doing the work God assigns you.