The hustle and hassle that is prevalent in this world can easily make one to focus solely on his own interest. These rigorous activities can make us forget about the necessity of carrying others along as we go. Nevertheless, as followers of Christ, we have been called to show compassion and rise above the act of doing things for our own selfish interests. Christ is the perfect example of a personality that showcased selflessness to the core. During his ministry on earth, he constantly and consciously put the needs of his followers and that of others before his own needs. He cared first for the people around him. Having fulfilled his mission on earth, he expects us to carry on from where he stopped. Christ has instructed us as his disciples to follow his footsteps so that God can be seen in us and through our actions. Join us in this blog as we study some Bible verses that will inspire and help us put others first.
The ultimate act of kindness and selflessness that Jesus Christ demonstrated was laying down his life for us on the cross of Calvary to save us from sin and eternal condemnation. Christ selfless act of dying on the cross does not undermine the positive effects of the other acts of compassion he displayed, like feeding the hungry, healing the sick, comforting the brokenhearted and giving hope to the hopeless. These selfless acts of Christ is a reminder to us that as his followers we are to live the way he lived. Various verses in the Bible condemns selfishness, presenting it as action that is contrary to Christian lifestyle and value. It may seem heard to put the needs of others before our own, but let us understand that selflessness is one message that Jesus emphasized on and at such we must put the needs of others first.
SEE ALSO: 40 Important Bible Verses About Fake Friends
What Does The Bible About Being Selfless
Apostle Paul messages to the church highlights on the importance on putting the needs of others first. He went ahead to teach on the consequences of being greedy and selfish.
Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. Not looking to your own interests but to each of you to the interests of others.” In this passage of the scripture, Paul the Apostle openly and directly addresses the importance and need of being selfless.
John 15: 12-14 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you”. Christ commands us in this verse to love one another as he loves us, stating clearly that greatness comes being kind to people and from serving others too. The true meaning of this verse is contrary to the meaning of selfishness.
Galatians 6:2 “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ”. This scripture implores us to care and support for one another during difficult times, and in doing so, we will be fulfill Christ’s law on compassion and kindness. As we study these scriptures below, let us do well to also open our hearts and learn the messages they pass across and also strive to practice them.
Bible Verses About Being Selfless
- Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. – Philippians 2:3
- You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. – Galatians 5:13
- Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. – Romans 12:10
- Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. – 1 Peter 4:10
- My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. – John 15:12
- Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all. – Mark 9:35
- Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. – Proverbs 3:27
- No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. – 1 Corinthians 10:24
- Do to others as you would have them do to you. – Luke 6:31
- To slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone. – Titus 3:2
- And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. – Hebrews 13:16
- A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. – Proverbs 11:25
- The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. – Matthew 25:40
- Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. – 1 John 3:18
- For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. – James 3:16
- Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. – Matthew 5:42
- Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. – 1 Thessalonians 5:11
- Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. – Matthew 20:28
- Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. – 2 Corinthians 9:6
- The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. – Proverbs 22:9
- In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive. – Acts 20:35
- Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the Lord delivers them in times of trouble. – Psalm 41:1
- Not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. – Philippians 2:4
- He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. – Micah 6:8
- We love because he first loved us. – 1 John 4:19
- For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. – Mark 10:45
- Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. – Colossians 3:12
- The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. – Matthew 23:11-12
- We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. – Romans 15:1-2
- Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. – Luke 6:38
- Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain. – Psalm 119:36
- For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. – Galatians 5:14
- This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. – John 15:12-14
- 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. – 1 Timothy 6:17-19
- For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. – 2 Peter 1:5-7
- You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. – Leviticus 19:18
- If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. – 1 Corinthians 13:3
- John 15:1 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
- You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. – Deuteronomy 15:10
- I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. – John 5:30