Levo
Bible verses for selfishness
When it's all about me
The lie
I'll be happy when I get what I want.
The truth
Selfishness promises you'll be happier if you put yourself first. It leaves you smaller and lonelier. Jesus had every right to be served, and He came to serve. Real life is found by giving yourself away.
More truth
- Love doesn't insist on its own way.
- Ask what they need before you say what you want.
- Small acts of serving change a home.
Pause
Stop. Breathe. Look up from yourself for a moment. Who is in front of you, and what do they need?
My verses
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
But it shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs.
Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written: “The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me.”
No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.
For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.
And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
Pray
Lord, I've made it all about me again. Forgive me. You didn't come to be served but to serve, and You gave Your life for me. Open my eyes to the people around me, and give me a heart that gladly puts them first. Amen.
Your way out
- Ask the person next to you: how can I help?
- Let someone else choose this time.
- Do one job nobody asked you to do.
- Listen to the end before you talk about yourself.
- Give something away today: time, money or the last piece.
Rest is not selfish
Resting, saying no and looking after your health are not selfish. Selfishness is when your wants push everyone else out. Jesus took time to rest and still lived for others.
And He said to them, “Come with Me privately to a solitary place, and let us rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.
Go deeper: Life poured out
Five days in the Bible on this, one passage a day.
- The best seats Mark 10:35-45
- The Samaritan Luke 10:25-37
- What love is 1 Corinthians 13:1-7
- Abram lets Lot choose Genesis 13:5-12
- Nothing was their own Acts 4:32-37