We live in a world where almost everyone is driven by self-interest; a recipe for selfishness and greed. All everyone thinks about is; I, me, myself, and mine. No longer are we concerned about the needs of others, nor do we give to the poor. And if we do, it is often for public recognition which God does not delight in. In Matthew 6:3-4 the bible says “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
Selfishness rarely exists in isolation; it tends to foster other vices such as greed, envy, corruption, and jealousy. This, in turn, widens the gap between the haves and the have-nots, exacerbating social disparities.
Yet, within the Scriptures, we discover not only stern warnings against greed and covetousness but also inspiring examples of generosity and compassion. These verses call upon us to reassess our priorities and challenge us to embrace a life characterized by giving rather than taking.
Here are 60 Bible verses about selfishness
Philippians 2:3
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.”
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1 Corinthians 10:24
“No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.”
Galatians 5:22-23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
James 3:14-16
“But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.”
Luke 6:31
“Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
Proverbs 11:25
“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”
Romans 12:10
“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
Mark 8:36
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
1 Timothy 6:10
“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
Ephesians 4:28
“Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.”
Proverbs 21:26
“All day long he craves and craves,but The righteous gives and does not hold back.”
Matthew 20:28
“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.”
Luke 14:12-14
“But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”
Acts 20:35
“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.'”
Romans 15:1-2
“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.”
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1 John 3:16-18
“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 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? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”
Proverbs 19:17
“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.”
James 4:3
“You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.”
Proverbs 28:25
“A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.”
1 John 3:17
“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?”
Romans 2:8
“But for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.”
Proverbs 1:19
“Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life.”
Luke 9:25
“For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?”
1 Corinthians 3:3
“For you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?”
Galatians 6:3-4
“For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.”
Philippians 1:17
“The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.”
Proverbs 15:27
“Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.”
Romans 13:9
“For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,’ and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'”
Titus 1:7
“For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain.”
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1 Peter 5:2
“Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly.”
Luke 16:13
“No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
Proverbs 28:16
“A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor, but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.”
1 Corinthians 5:11
“But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.”
Matthew 6:19-21
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Proverbs 28:8
“Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit gathers it for him who is generous to the poor.”
1 Timothy 6:17-18
“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.”
James 5:1-5
“Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.”
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Proverbs 23:4-5
“Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.”
1 Timothy 6:6-8
“But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.”
Colossians 3:2
“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
Hebrews 13:5
“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.'”
Matthew 19:21
“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.'”
Proverbs 22:16
“Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.”
Proverbs 28:22
“A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him.”
1 Timothy 6:9
“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”
Proverbs 11:24-25
“One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”
1 Corinthians 6:10
“Nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
Proverbs 15:16
“Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.”
Proverbs 28:20
“A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.”
Luke 12:33-34
“Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
2 Corinthians 9:7
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
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1 Peter 4:10
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”
Philippians 2:4
“Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others.”
Luke 12:15
“And he said to them, ‘Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.'”
Luke 9:25
“For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?”
Luke 6:38
“Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Luke 9:23
“And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'”
2 Timothy 3:1-2
“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy.”
Isaiah 56:11
“And the dogs are greedy, they are not satisfied. And they are shepherds who have no understanding; They have all turned to their own way, Each one to his unjust gain, to the last one.”
Esther 6:6
“So Haman came in and the king said to him, “What is to be done for the man whom the king desires to honor?” And Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king desire to honor more than me?””
1 Corinthians 10:33
“Just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.”
Isaiah 5:8
“Woe to those who add house to house and join field to field, Until there is no more room So that you have to live alone in the midst of the land!”