SELFISHNESS
1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spoke
as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a
child; but when I became a man, I put away
childish things.
Luke 9:23… "If anyone desires to come after Me,
let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,
and follow Me.
Selfishness causes you do things you wouldn’t
normally do.
1 Kings 21:1 And it came to pass after these
things that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard
which was in Jezreel, next to the palace of Ahab
king of Samaria. 2 So Ahab spoke to Naboth,
saying, "Give me your vineyard, that I may have
it for a vegetable garden, because it is near, next
to my house; and for it I will give you a vineyard
better than it. Or, if it seems good to you, I will
give you its worth in money." 3 But Naboth said
to Ahab, "The LORD forbid that I should give the
inheritance of my fathers to you!" 4 So Ahab
went into his house sullen and displeased
because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite
had spoken to him; for he had said,
"I will not give you the inheritance of my
fathers." And he lay down on his bed, and turned
away his face, and would eat no food. 5 But
Jezebel his wife came to him, and said to him,
"Why is your spirit so sullen that you eat no
food?" 6 He said to her, "Because I spoke to
Naboth the Jezreelite, and said to him, 'Give me
your vineyard for money; or else, if it pleases you,
I will give you another vineyard for it.' And he
answered, 'I will not give you my vineyard.' " 7
Then Jezebel his wife said to him, "You now
exercise authority over Israel! Arise, eat food,
and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the
vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite."
Esther 3:1 After these things King Ahasuerus
promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the
Agagite, and advanced him and set his seat above all
the princes who were with him. 2 And all the king's
servants who were within the king's gate bowed and
paid homage to Haman, for so the king had
commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would not
bow or pay homage. 3 Then the king's servants who
were within the king's gate said to Mordecai, "Why
do you transgress the king's command?" 4 Now it
happened, when they spoke to him daily and he
would not listen to them, that they told it to Haman,
to see whether Mordecai's words would stand; for
Mordecai had told them that he was a Jew. 5 When
Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him
homage, Haman was filled with wrath.
Esther 5:9 So Haman went out that day joyful and
with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in
the king's gate, and that he did not stand or tremble
before him, he was filled with indignation against
Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless Haman restrained himself
and went home, and he sent and called for his friends
and his wife Zeresh. 11 Then Haman told them of his
great riches, the multitude of his children, everything
in which the king had promoted him, and how he had
advanced him above the officials and servants of the
king. 12 Moreover Haman said, "Besides, Queen
Esther invited no one but me to come in with the king
to the banquet that she prepared; and tomorrow I am
again invited by her, along with the king. 13 "Yet all
this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the
Jew sitting at the king's gate."
Ephesians 5:28 So husbands ought to love their
own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his
wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his
own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as
the Lord does the church.
2 Timothy 3:1 But know this, that in the last days
perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers
of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud,
blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful,
unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers,
without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4
traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure
rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of
godliness but denying its power. And from such
people turn away!
Romans 2:7 eternal life to those who by patient
continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor,
and immortality; 8 but to those who are selfseeking and do not obey the truth, but obey
unrighteousness -- indignation and wrath, 9
tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man
who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the
Greek;
Luke 12:16 Then He spoke a parable to them,
saying: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded
plentifully. 17 "And he thought within himself,
saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to
store my crops?' 18 "So he said, 'I will do this: I
will pull down my barns and build greater, and
there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19
'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many
goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat,
drink, and be merry." ' 20 "But God said to him,
'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you;
then whose will those things be which you have
provided?'
Acts 4:32 Now the multitude of those who
believed were of one heart and one soul; neither
did anyone say that any of the things he
possessed was his own, but they had all things in
common. 33 And with great power the apostles
gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord
Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 34 Nor
was there anyone among them who lacked; for all
who were possessors of lands or houses sold
them, and brought the proceeds of the things that
were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles' feet;
and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
Philippians 2:1 Therefore if there is any consolation
in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of
the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy
by being like-minded, having the same love, being of
one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done
through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness
of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4
Let each of you look out not only for his own
interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let
this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6
who, being in the form of God, did not consider it
robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of
no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and
coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in
appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and
became obedient to the point of death, even the
death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly
exalted Him and given Him the name which is above
every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on
earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that
every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. 12 Therefore, my
beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my
presence only, but now much more in my absence,
work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to
do for His good pleasure. 14 Do all things without
complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become
blameless and harmless, children of God without fault
in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,
among whom you shine as lights in the world,
ESV Psalm 119:36 Incline my heart to your
testimonies, and not to selfish gain! 37 Turn my
eyes from looking at worthless things; and give
me life in your ways.
Overcome selfishness by studying God’s Word
and by praying.