Sleep is a gift from God, given to refresh and restore our bodies. It helps us regain strength after a long day and allows our minds to rest. The Bible acknowledges the importance of sleep, showing that God grants rest to His beloved. However, like all good things, sleep must be balanced and not taken to excess.
Too much sleep can lead to laziness, making a person unproductive and unprepared for life’s responsibilities. It can also cause missed opportunities, as important tasks may be left undone. The Bible warns that excessive sleep can bring poverty and hardship, while diligence leads to success. God calls His people to work hard and use their time wisely.
Sleeping too much can also cause spiritual stagnation, making a believer weak in their faith. When people are not spiritually alert, they may become careless in prayer, Bible study, and obedience to God. Jesus often told His disciples to stay awake and be watchful. Christians are called to be vigilant and ready for His return.
The Bible encourages believers to be diligent, watchful, and spiritually alert at all times. Hard work, prayer, and faithfulness are key to living a life that pleases God. Below are Bible verses that provide wisdom on this important topic.
Preachers Quotes
“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” – Tim Notke
“God does not anoint laziness. He anoints those who are willing to work for His glory.” – John Hagee
“The Christian life is not a playground but a battleground.” – Leonard Ravenhill
“Faith without works is dead. God blesses action, not idleness.” – Charles Spurgeon
“The devil tempts those who are idle because idleness is the devil’s workshop.” – D.L. Moody
“A sleeping Christian is a powerless Christian. Stay awake and watch!” – David Wilkerson
“The lazy Christian will have a weak faith, but the diligent Christian will grow strong in the Lord.” – Paul Washer
You might also be interested in: Bible verses about Procrastination
Bible Verses About Sleeping Too Much
Proverbs 6:9-11 – A warning against laziness
“How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep— So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.” – Proverbs 6:9-11
Proverbs 10:5 – Diligence leads to wisdom
“He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.” – Proverbs 10:5
Proverbs 19:15 – Laziness leads to deep sleep
“Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, And an idle person will suffer hunger.” – Proverbs 19:15
Proverbs 20:13 – Love not sleep
“Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.” – Proverbs 20:13
Romans 13:11 – Wake up from spiritual sleep
“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” – Romans 13:11
1 Thessalonians 5:6 – Be watchful and sober
“Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:6
Proverbs 24:33-34 – Sleeping too much leads to poverty
“A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest; So shall your poverty come like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.” – Proverbs 24:33-34
Mark 13:36 – Stay spiritually awake
“Lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping.” – Mark 13:36
Luke 21:36 – Watch and pray
“Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” – Luke 21:36
Matthew 26:41 – Watch and pray to avoid temptation
“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” – Matthew 26:41
Proverbs 12:24 – Diligence rules, laziness enslaves
“The hand of the diligent will rule, But the lazy man will be put to forced labor.” – Proverbs 12:24
Colossians 3:23 – Work heartily for the Lord
“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” – Colossians 3:23
Ecclesiastes 10:18 – Laziness leads to decay
“Because of laziness the building decays, And through idleness of hands the house leaks.” – Ecclesiastes 10:18
Proverbs 26:14 – A lazy person turns in his bed
“As a door turns on its hinges, So does the lazy man on his bed.” – Proverbs 26:14
Ephesians 5:14 – Arise from the dead
“Therefore He says: ‘Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.’” – Ephesians 5:14
1 Corinthians 15:34 – Wake up to righteousness
“Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.” – 1 Corinthians 15:34
Proverbs 15:19 – The lazy path is difficult
“The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, But the way of the upright is a highway.” – Proverbs 15:19
Proverbs 21:25 – Lazy people desire but do not work
“The desire of the lazy man kills him, For his hands refuse to labor.” – Proverbs 21:25
Hebrews 6:12 – Do not be sluggish
“That you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” – Hebrews 6:12
2 Thessalonians 3:10 – If you don’t work, you shouldn’t eat
“For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:10
Proverbs 13:4 – The diligent are richly supplied
“The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.” – Proverbs 13:4
Matthew 25:26 – The unprofitable servant
“But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.’” – Matthew 25:26
Proverbs 22:13 – The lazy make excuses
“The lazy man says, ‘There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!’” – Proverbs 22:13
Ecclesiastes 5:12 – Hard workers sleep well
“The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, Whether he eats little or much; But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.” – Ecclesiastes 5:12
Proverbs 14:23 – Work brings profit
“In all labor there is profit, But idle chatter leads only to poverty.” – Proverbs 14:23
Proverbs 18:9 – Laziness is destructive
“He who is slothful in his work Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer.” – Proverbs 18:9
John 9:4 – Work while it is day
“I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.” – John 9:4
1 Peter 5:8 – Be vigilant
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” – 1 Peter 5:8
2 Timothy 4:5 – Be watchful in all things
“But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” – 2 Timothy 4:5
Acts 20:35 – It is more blessed to give
“I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” – Acts 20:35
1 Corinthians 9:24 – Run the race to win
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.” – 1 Corinthians 9:24
2 Peter 1:10 – Be diligent in your calling
“Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble.” – 2 Peter 1:10
Psalm 127:2 – God gives sleep to His beloved
“It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep.” – Psalm 127:2
Isaiah 60:1 – Arise and shine
“Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.” – Isaiah 60:1
Psalm 4:8 – God grants peaceful sleep
“I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” – Psalm 4:8
Psalm 121:3-4 – God does not slumber
“He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.” – Psalm 121:3-4
Luke 12:35-36 – Keep your lamps burning
“Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.” – Luke 12:35-36
Revelation 16:15 – Stay awake and keep your garments
“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” – Revelation 16:15
Judges 16:19 – Samson’s sleep led to his downfall
“Then she lulled him to sleep on her knees, and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him.” – Judges 16:19
1 Kings 19:5-6 – God wakes Elijah for strength
“Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, ‘Arise and eat.’ Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again.” – 1 Kings 19:5-6
If you’re interested, here’s another article on: Bible verses about Attitude
What Does The Bible Say About Sleeping Too Much
The Bible talks a lot about sleep, rest, and laziness. Sleep is a gift from God, and it is necessary for our health and well-being. However, sleeping too much can be a sign of laziness, lack of discipline, or even spiritual weakness. The Bible warns against excessive sleep and encourages believers to be hardworking, watchful, and spiritually alert.
In Proverbs 6:9-11, the Bible asks, “How long will you sleep, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep— So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.” This verse teaches that too much sleep can lead to poverty and hardship. Instead of sleeping too much, we should use our time wisely and work diligently.
Proverbs 20:13 also warns, “Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.” This verse reminds us that loving sleep too much can make us poor. Hard work brings blessings, while laziness leads to lack. God wants His people to be productive and use their time wisely.
In the New Testament, the Bible also warns about spiritual sleep. Romans 13:11 says, “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” This verse is not just about physical sleep but also about spiritual laziness. Christians must be awake and ready because Jesus is coming soon.
Jesus Himself warned His disciples to stay awake and pray. In Matthew 26:41, He said, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” This shows that too much sleep can make us weak spiritually and unprepared for trials.
The Bible does not say that sleep is bad. In fact, Psalm 127:2 says, “For so He gives His beloved sleep.” This means God blesses His people with rest. However, we must not let sleep control our lives. There is a time to rest and a time to work. Christians should be diligent in their daily lives and in their walk with God. We must avoid laziness and be ready to serve the Lord. The Bible calls us to be watchful, hardworking, and spiritually alert.