Selfishness is a theme that the Bible addresses throughout its chapters. Selfishness, according to biblical teachings, is a corrosive trait that undermines unity and love between individuals. It is seen as a barrier to a more harmonious and collaborative life within communities and a healthier relationship with God. The Bible expresses clear warnings against succumbing to selfish tendencies and emphasizes the importance of giving, love, and humility as opposed to selfish pursuits and desires.
What the Bible Says About Selfishness
The Bible communicates a consistent view against selfish behaviors and attitudes. According to the Bible, selfishness is a manifestation of lack of love for others and for God. It is brought about by a desire to satisfy personal needs and wants at the expense of others. The Bible illustrates through various parables and teachings the destructive consequences of selfish actions and the strength and virtue in selflessness and altruism. It encourages believers to practice love, empathy, and to place the needs of others before their own.
Why Selfishness is Discouraged in the Bible
The Bible discourages selfishness because of its damaging effects on relationships, both with other people and with God. According to the Bible, selfishness promotes disunity and creates tension in relationships. It destroys peace and love, replacing them with greed, enmity, and strife. Additionally, selfishness is often associated with greed and materialism, which blur spiritual understanding and therefore disrupt the relationship with God. The Bible insists on the virtues of selflessness, emphasizing that individuals should seek to be of service to others as an expression of their faith and love for God.
Where Selflessness is Encouraged in the Bible
The Bible encourages selflessness in various ways and contexts. It urges believers to show kindness and generosity, especially to those in need, as a demonstration of Christian love and compassion. It underscores that one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions, thus discouraging the accumulation of wealth for personal gain. The virtue of humility is highly emphasized, which involves acknowledging that one is no more important than others. The Bible also provides examples of selfless acts by various characters, both as models of right behaviour and as illustrations of the joy and fulfillment that come from selflessness.
Who in the Bible Exhibited Selflessness
The Bible offers numerous examples of individuals who exhibited a high degree of selflessness in their lives. Most prominent among them is Jesus Christ, who sacrificed his life on the cross out of love for mankind. His life and teachings served as a model of selflessness and love. Other biblical characters exhibited selflessness in their interactions with others. These examples serve to inspire and guide contemporary believers on how to live selflessly in their own lives. Their actions highlight the transformative power of selfless action on both the individual and the society.
When Selfishness is Repudiated in the Bible
The Bible repudiates selfishness in various situations and contexts. In moments of conflict and disagreement, it calls on individuals to consider the interests of others before their own. In economic transactions, it advises people to act fairly and not to exploit others for personal gain. It criticizes those who amass wealth at the expense of the poor and needy. In human relationships, it deems selfishness as a destructive force that undermines love, unity, and harmony among people.
Below is the full list of bible verses on selfishness (King James Version – KJV). The list is ranked in order of popularity and we hope you find the inspiration you need.
Most Popular Bible Verses About Selfishness
Philippians 2:4
“4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”
Related Themes: Selflessness Dating Serving Others Sacrifice
2 Timothy 3:2-4
“2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;”
Related Themes: Respecting Your Parents Pride Money Self Seeking
1 John 3:17
“17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?”
Related Themes: Homelessness Money Serving The Poor
1 Corinthians 10:24
“24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.”
Related Themes: Morality Morals Love Selflessness
Philippians 2:3-4
“3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”
Related Themes: Pride Humility Respecting Your Parents
1 Corinthians 13:4-6
“4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;”
Philippians 2:21
“21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.”
Galatians 6:2
“2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
Related Themes: Suffering Strangers Community Justice Homelessness
James 3:16
“16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”
Related Themes: Envy And Jealousy Offense Jealousy Youth
James 4:1-2
“1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.”
Related Themes: Lust Complaining Arguing
Romans 15:1-3
“1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.”
Related Themes: Heroes Hope Serving Others Omnipotence
Hebrews 13:16
“16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
Related Themes: Strangers Sharing Sacrifice Charity Pleasing God
Luke 6:32-34
“32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.”
Related Themes: Love
Haggai 1:9
“9 Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.”
Romans 2:8
“8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,”
Related Themes: Indulgence Pride Self Seeking Strife
Galatians 5:26
“26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”
Related Themes: Humility Bitterness Envy Envy And Jealousy
2 Timothy 2:4
“4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”
Related Themes: Lust Pleasing God Purity
1 Timothy 6:17-19
“17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”
Related Themes: Money Pride Money Homelessness Hope
Acts 20:35
“35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Related Themes: Money Serving Others Charity Generosity Finances
Proverbs 21:13
“13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.”
Related Themes: Homelessness Protests Serving The Poor Charity Generosity
Proverbs 28:27
“27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.”
Related Themes: Homelessness Money Benevolence Serving The Poor Giving
Luke 9:23
“23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”
Related Themes: Surrender Self Denial Identity Suffering Self Denial
2 Corinthians 5:15
“15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”
Related Themes: Holiness
Proverbs 26:12
“12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.”
Related Themes: Pride Hope Boastfulness Humility
James 1:13-15
“13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”
Psalm 119:36
“36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.”
Related Themes: Greed Indulgence Coveting Selflessness
Proverbs 18:1
“1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.”
Related Themes: Arguing Indulgence Discernment Wisdom Divorce
Isaiah 5:20
“20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”
Related Themes: Morality Morals Evil Bitterness Good
2 Corinthians 8:9
“9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”
Related Themes: Homelessness Money Poverty Prosperity Benevolence
Proverbs 18:17
“17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.”
Related Themes: Business Communication
