What Does The Bible Teach Us About Human Selfishness? What impact does our selfishness have on society, our closeness to God, helping each other, and above all, the love we should have for our fellowmen?
The Bible is an excellent indicator of how we could learn what selfishness causes and the devastation it can create. So, let us look at the Biblical scriptures that should enlighten us and remove any selfishness that we are feeling.
Philippians 2:4 Look not every man on his things, but every man also on the things of others. 1 John 3:17 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?
2 Timothy 3:2-4 For men shall be lovers of themselves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce despisers of those that are good. Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.
Philippians 2:3-4 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his things, but every man also on the things of others.
1 Corinthians 13:4-6 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth, not itself, is not puffed up. Doth not behave unseemlily, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil. Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.
James 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. James 4:1-2 From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 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.
Romans 15:1-3 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
Luke 6:32-34 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 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.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 Charge them that are rich in this world that they are not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. They do good that they are rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate. Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
James 1:13-15 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. But every man is tempted when he is drawn away from his lust and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
