Selfishness, as a concept, is often depicted in the Bible as a deviation from the divine ideal of selflessness and love for one's neighbor. In the context of seeking after gain, selfishness manifests as an excessive or exclusive focus on personal wealth, success, or advantage, often at the expense of others and one's spiritual well-being.

Biblical Warnings Against Selfish Gain

The Bible provides numerous warnings against the pursuit of selfish gain. In Proverbs 28:22, the Berean Standard Bible states, "A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty awaits him." This verse highlights the futility and potential downfall associated with a relentless pursuit of wealth driven by selfish motives.

Similarly, in 1 Timothy 6:9-10 , the Apostle Paul warns, "Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows." Here, the love of money is identified as a root cause of various evils, emphasizing the spiritual dangers of prioritizing material gain over faith and righteousness.

Examples of Selfishness in Seeking Gain

The Bible provides several examples of individuals who exhibited selfishness in their pursuit of gain. One notable example is the account of Achan in the Book of Joshua. Achan's selfish desire for material wealth led him to disobey God's command by taking forbidden items from the spoils of Jericho. His actions brought disaster upon himself and the Israelites, as recounted in Joshua 7:20-21 : "Achan replied, 'It is true. I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I did: When I saw among the spoils a beautiful cloak from Shinar, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.'"

Another example is found in the New Testament with the account of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11. This couple sold a piece of property and deceitfully withheld part of the proceeds while claiming to have given the full amount to the apostles. Their selfishness and dishonesty resulted in their sudden deaths, serving as a stark warning against deceitful gain.

The Call to Selflessness

In contrast to selfishness, the Bible calls believers to a life of selflessness and generosity. Philippians 2:3-4 exhorts, "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." This passage encourages believers to prioritize the well-being of others, reflecting the selfless love exemplified by Christ.

Furthermore, Jesus Himself taught about the dangers of storing up earthly treasures at the expense of spiritual wealth. In Matthew 6:19-21 , He instructs, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Conclusion

The Bible consistently warns against the dangers of selfishness, particularly in the pursuit of material gain. Through both direct teachings and illustrative narratives, Scripture calls believers to a life of selflessness, generosity, and spiritual focus, aligning their hearts with the eternal values of God's kingdom.Isaiah 56:11
Yes, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Good Samaritan.
... 62] The analogy between the meetings exhibited in this ... aside after they have sprung,
and degenerate into selfishness. ... of religion as more self-seeking and less ...
/.../arnot/the parables of our lord/xvii the good samaritan.htm

Christian Sympathy
... God that made them, have yet exhibited bowels of ... find in Christ a grain of selfishness,
consecrate yourselves ... hurt than good, for while seeking to vindicate ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 8 1863/christian sympathy.htm

Be not Conformed to this World. Romans 12:2.
... He exhibited the same spirit that God does, who enjoys his ... They are following
selfishness on a larger scale ... buy and sell on the principle of not seeking our own ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/be not conformed to this.htm

Epistle of Paul to the Philippians.
... grace of the Lord had been exhibited towards him in ... to avoid every appearance of
self-seeking, and to ... far also from that more refined selfishness, which cannot ...
/.../epistle of paul to the.htm

section second.
... denying love, in purification from all selfishness, thereby becoming ... form, in its
full extent as exhibited above. ... the position of the wisdom-seeking Greeks, of ...
/.../the epistle of paul to the philippians practically explained/section second.htm

Enthusiasm.
... might be so refined from selfishness as to ... assimilated; and Behmen's strange theosophy,
after passing through ... the Divine will"of seeking 'deliverance from ...
/.../abbey/the english church in the eighteenth century/chapter vii enthusiasm.htm

The Pilgrim's Progress
... Yea, tell them how plain-hearted this man was, How after his good Lord he ... thy mysterious
lines, let them remain For those whose nimble fancies shall them gain. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the pilgrims progress.htm

What does the Bible say about sharing? | GotQuestions.org

Why is loving others often so difficult? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about motives? | GotQuestions.org

Selfishness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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