The Best 50+ Bible Verses About Complacency

Complacency can sneak into our lives without us even noticing. It's that subtle shift from striving to settling, from being proactive to being passive.

This article brings together 50 Bible verses that address complacency. These verses offer wisdom and guidance, helping us recognize and combat this often-overlooked issue.

50 Bible Verses About Complacency

10 Bible Verses on Complacency in Faith

• "Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away." — Hebrews 2:1
• "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth." — Revelation 3:15-16
• "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. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’" — Matthew 25:26-30
• "But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins." — 2 Peter 1:5-9
• "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." — James 1:22
• "Do not quench the Spirit." — 1 Thessalonians 5:19
• "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." — Galatians 6:9
• "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." — Philippians 3:12-14
• "And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister." — Colossians 1:21-23
• "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." — 2 Timothy 4:2

10 Bible Verses on Overcoming Spiritual Complacency

• "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." — Ephesians 6:10-11
• "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. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified." — 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
• "Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." — Romans 12:11
• "You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen." — 2 Peter 3:17-18
• "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." — 1 John 2:15-17
• "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." — Philippians 2:12-13
• "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." — Hebrews 12:1-2
• "Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." — 2 Timothy 1:6-7
• "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." — James 4:7-8
• "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world." — 1 Peter 5:8-9

10 Bible Verses on Complacency and Accountability

• "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." — Proverbs 27:17
• "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up." — Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
• "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted." — Galatians 6:1
• "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." — Hebrews 10:24-25
• "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector." — Matthew 18:15-17
• "Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all." — 1 Thessalonians 5:14
• "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." — James 5:16
• "So then each of us shall give account of himself to God." — Romans 14:12
• "That there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it." — 1 Corinthians 12:25-26
• "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." — 2 Corinthians 5:10

10 Bible Verses on The Dangers of Complacency

• "For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them." — Proverbs 1:32
• "Cursed is he who does the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from blood." — Jeremiah 48:10
• "Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: 'The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, "What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?" So he said, "I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.'" But God said to him, "Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?" So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.'" — Luke 12:16-21
• "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked." — Revelation 3:17
• "Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger." — Proverbs 19:15
• "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." — Matthew 7:26-27
• "But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." — 1 Timothy 6:9-10
• "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,' says the Lord God. 'Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin." — Ezekiel 18:30
• "For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: 'A dog returns to his own vomit,' and, 'a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.'" — 2 Peter 2:20-22
• "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. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light." — Romans 13:11-12

10 Bible Verses on Complacency in Relationships

• "Do not be deceived: 'Evil company corrupts good habits.'" — 1 Corinthians 15:33
• "He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed." — Proverbs 13:20
• "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." — 1 John 1:7
• "With all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." — Ephesians 4:2-3
• "Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection." — Colossians 3:13-14
• "Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another." — Romans 12:10
• "And above all things have fervent love for one another, for 'love will cover a multitude of sins.'" — 1 Peter 4:8
• "For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." — Galatians 5:13
• "Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel." — Philippians 1:27
• "And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints." — 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

What Does the Bible Say About Complacency

Complacency is a subtle trap that can affect anyone. The Bible offers wisdom to help us recognize and overcome it. By reflecting on these teachings, we can find ways to stay vigilant and proactive in our faith and daily lives.

One key theme is the importance of staying active in our faith. Verses like Hebrews 2:1 and James 1:22 remind us to be doers of the word, not just hearers. This means continually seeking to grow and apply our faith, rather than becoming passive or indifferent.

Another theme is the danger of spiritual laziness. Proverbs 1:32 and Revelation 3:17 warn us that complacency can lead to spiritual ruin. These verses encourage us to stay alert and avoid the pitfalls of self-satisfaction and neglect.

Accountability is also crucial. Proverbs 27:17 and Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 highlight the value of community and mutual support. By holding each other accountable, we can help prevent complacency and encourage growth and improvement.

Finally, relationships play a significant role. Verses like 1 Corinthians 15:33 and Ephesians 4:2-3 emphasize the impact of our associations. Surrounding ourselves with positive influences can help us stay focused and committed to our spiritual journey.

How to Apply These Bible Verses About Complacency

Applying Bible teachings about complacency to daily life is crucial for spiritual growth and maintaining a proactive faith. These verses offer practical wisdom that can guide us in our everyday actions and decisions.

• Stay Active in Faith: Make it a habit to read and reflect on the Bible daily. Set aside time each morning or evening for prayer and meditation.
• Engage in Community: Join a local church group or Bible study. Sharing your journey with others can provide support and accountability.
• Practice Self-Reflection: Regularly examine your actions and attitudes. Ask yourself if you are living according to God's teachings and make adjustments as needed.
• Serve Others: Look for opportunities to help those in need. Volunteering at a local charity or simply being there for a friend can keep you grounded and focused on living out your faith.
• Pray for Guidance: Ask God to help you stay vigilant and avoid complacency. Simple prayers throughout the day can keep you connected to His will.

Remember, God is always with you, guiding and supporting you. By staying committed to these practices, you can experience the transformative power of faith in your life.

For more prayers and Bible verses, visit PrayersFor or try our Bible Verse Generator to deepen your understanding and faith.