The Bible teaches that prioritizing one's own interests above others is contrary to God's will. In Philippians, believers are exhorted to consider others' needs as more important than their own, looking out for their interests. The apostle Paul also warns in 2 Timothy that selfishness is a characteristic of those who are opposed to God, while 1 John emphasizes the importance of demonstrating love through selfless actions. By putting others first, as encouraged in 1 Corinthians and Philippians, Christians can reflect the humility and generosity of Christ, cultivating a spirit of selflessness in their relationships.
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Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good, traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
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?
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.
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.
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. Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth.
What causes conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the passions at war within you? You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask.
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.”
And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.
But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, there will be wrath and anger.