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100 Bible Verses about Selfishness

Philippians 2:4 ESV / 1,037 helpful votes

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

2 Timothy 3:2-4 ESV / 702 helpful votes

For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

1 John 3:17 ESV / 673 helpful votes

But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?

1 Corinthians 10:24 ESV / 651 helpful votes

Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.

Philippians 2:3-4 ESV / 542 helpful votes

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

James 3:16 ESV / 364 helpful votes

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

Philippians 2:21 ESV / 333 helpful votes

For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 13:4-6 ESV / 328 helpful votes

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

Galatians 6:2 ESV / 301 helpful votes

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

James 4:1-2 ESV / 258 helpful votes

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.

Romans 15:1-3 ESV / 223 helpful votes

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”

Hebrews 13:16 ESV / 218 helpful votes

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Luke 6:32-34 ESV / 203 helpful votes

“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.

Romans 2:8 ESV / 196 helpful votes

But for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.

Galatians 5:26 ESV / 181 helpful votes

Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Haggai 1:9 ESV / 180 helpful votes

You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house.

2 Timothy 2:4 ESV / 152 helpful votes

No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.

Psalm 119:36 ESV / 147 helpful votes

Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!

Acts 20:35 ESV / 142 helpful votes

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

1 Timothy 6:17-19 ESV / 135 helpful votes

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

Proverbs 28:27 ESV / 129 helpful votes

Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.

Proverbs 21:13 ESV / 123 helpful votes

Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.

2 Corinthians 5:15 ESV / 116 helpful votes

And he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

Proverbs 18:1 ESV / 115 helpful votes

Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.

Luke 9:23 ESV / 108 helpful votes

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Mark 12:31 ESV / 108 helpful votes

The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Galatians 2:20 ESV / 105 helpful votes

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Acts 20:24 ESV / 96 helpful votes

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Philippians 2:3 ESV / 90 helpful votes

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Proverbs 26:12 ESV / 87 helpful votes

Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Proverbs 11:25 ESV / 85 helpful votes

Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV / 84 helpful votes

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

John 15:13 ESV / 80 helpful votes

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Genesis 4:9 ESV / 76 helpful votes

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?”

James 1:13-15 ESV / 70 helpful votes

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

James 2:16 ESV / 69 helpful votes

And one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?

Mark 8:34 ESV / 68 helpful votes

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Proverbs 18:17 ESV / 67 helpful votes

The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.

Isaiah 5:20 ESV / 66 helpful votes

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

Ephesians 5:21 ESV / 64 helpful votes

Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Romans 15:2 ESV / 64 helpful votes

Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

1 John 2:15-16 ESV / 63 helpful votes

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 desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

Galatians 5:24 ESV / 63 helpful votes

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Matthew 20:16 ESV / 62 helpful votes

So the last will be first, and the first last.”

Philippians 1:17 ESV / 61 helpful votes

The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.

Matthew 19:21 ESV / 61 helpful votes

Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 ESV / 59 helpful votes

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

Malachi 1:10 ESV / 58 helpful votes

Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand.

3 John 1:9 ESV / 57 helpful votes

I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.

2 Timothy 3:1-17 ESV / 57 helpful votes

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. ...

Luke 17:33 ESV / 57 helpful votes

Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.

Zechariah 7:6 ESV / 57 helpful votes

And when you eat and when you drink, do you not eat for yourselves and drink for yourselves?

Ezekiel 34:18 ESV / 55 helpful votes

Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture; and to drink of clear water, that you must muddy the rest of the water with your feet?

Micah 3:11 ESV / 54 helpful votes

Its heads give judgment for a bribe; its priests teach for a price; its prophets practice divination for money; yet they lean on the Lord and say, “Is not the Lord in the midst of us? No disaster shall come upon us.”

1 Corinthians 3:18 ESV / 49 helpful votes

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.

Romans 14:15 ESV / 48 helpful votes

For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died.

Proverbs 11:26 ESV / 48 helpful votes

The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.

Genesis 4:1-26 ESV / 48 helpful votes

Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. ...

Philippians 4:19 ESV / 46 helpful votes

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Zechariah 7:1-14 ESV / 46 helpful votes

In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, which is Chislev. Now the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech and their men to entreat the favor of the Lord, saying to the priests of the house of the Lord of hosts and the prophets, “Should I weep and abstain in the fifth month, as I have done for so many years?” Then the word of the Lord of hosts came to me: “Say to all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth month and in the seventh, for these seventy years, was it for me that you fasted? ...

Haggai 1:4 ESV / 46 helpful votes

“Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?

Proverbs 18:2 ESV / 46 helpful votes

A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.

2 Peter 2:1 ESV / 45 helpful votes

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

Romans 6:16 ESV / 44 helpful votes

Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Ezekiel 28:17 ESV / 44 helpful votes

Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you.

James 4:6 ESV / 43 helpful votes

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

James 3:14 ESV / 43 helpful votes

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.

Romans 12:13 ESV / 43 helpful votes

Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Romans 8:14 ESV / 43 helpful votes

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Luke 13:1-17 ESV / 43 helpful votes

There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” ...

Proverbs 21:1-31 ESV / 42 helpful votes

The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart. To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin. The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. ...

Galatians 5:16-17 ESV / 40 helpful votes

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

Luke 21:8-9 ESV / 40 helpful votes

And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”

Romans 12:10 ESV / 39 helpful votes

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Proverbs 11:1-25:28 ESV / 38 helpful votes

A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight. When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them. Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight, but the wicked falls by his own wickedness. ...

Psalm 119:1-136:26 ESV / 38 helpful votes

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! ...

Acts 20:1-24:27 ESV / 37 helpful votes

After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus. These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, ...

Isaiah 5:1-30 ESV / 37 helpful votes

Let me sing for my beloved my love song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; and he looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. What more was there to do for my vineyard, that I have not done in it? When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes? And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. ...

Proverbs 21:15 ESV / 37 helpful votes

When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.

Ezekiel 16:49 ESV / 36 helpful votes

Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy.

Psalm 38:11 ESV / 35 helpful votes

My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, and my nearest kin stand far off.

Hebrews 11:1-40 ESV / 34 helpful votes

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. ...

Philippians 2:2 ESV / 31 helpful votes

Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

Romans 12:3 ESV / 31 helpful votes

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Matthew 19:22 ESV / 31 helpful votes

When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

3 John 1:1-15 ESV / 30 helpful votes

The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, ...

Matthew 23:25 ESV / 29 helpful votes

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

Amos 6:4-14 ESV / 29 helpful votes

“Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall, who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music, who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! Therefore they shall now be the first of those who go into exile, and the revelry of those who stretch themselves out shall pass away.” The Lord God has sworn by himself, declares the Lord, the God of hosts: “I abhor the pride of Jacob and hate his strongholds, and I will deliver up the city and all that is in it.” ...

1 Corinthians 13:3 ESV / 28 helpful votes

If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

James 3:2 ESV / 27 helpful votes

For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

John 3:16-17 ESV / 27 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

2 Chronicles 32:25 ESV / 27 helpful votes

But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem.

Romans 16:17-18 ESV / 26 helpful votes

I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

Job 14:22-15:21 ESV / 26 helpful votes

He feels only the pain of his own body, and he mourns only for himself.” Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: “Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind? Should he argue in unprofitable talk, or in words with which he can do no good? But you are doing away with the fear of God and hindering meditation before God. ...

Revelation 18:7 ESV / 25 helpful votes

As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, ‘I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.’

2 Corinthians 2:17 ESV / 25 helpful votes

For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

Romans 12:1-14:23 ESV / 25 helpful votes

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ...

Luke 14:26 ESV / 25 helpful votes

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

1 Kings 3:11-12 ESV / 25 helpful votes

And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.

John 3:30 ESV / 24 helpful votes

He must increase, but I must decrease.”

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