61 Bible Verses about Unselfishness

I can do nothing of myself; I judge as I am taught; and the judgment that I give is just, because my aim is not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.

Even the Christ did not please himself! On the contrary, as Scripture says of him--'The reproaches of those who were reproaching thee fell upon me.'

Afterwards Jesus called his disciples to him, and said: "My heart is moved at the sight of all these people, for they have already been with me three days and they have nothing to eat; and I am unwilling to send them away hungry, for fear that they should break down on the way."

And at supper, Jesus--although knowing that the Father had put everything into his hands, and that he had come from God, and was to return to God-- Rose from his place, and, taking off his upper garments, tied a towel round his waist. He then poured some water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel which was tied round him.

For you do not forget the loving-kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ--how that for your sakes, although he was rich, he became poor, so that you also might become rich through his poverty.

Among you it is not so. No, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to take the first place among you, must be your slave; Just as the Son of Man came, not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

But among you it is not so. No, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, And whoever wants to take the first place among you must be the servant of all; For even the Son of Man came, not be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Let the spirit of Christ Jesus be yours also. Though the divine nature was his from the beginning, yet he did not look upon equality with God as above all things to be clung to, But impoverished himself by taking the nature of a servant and becoming like men;read more.
He appeared among us as a man, and still further humbled himself by submitting even to death--to death on a cross!

This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life- -to receive it again. No one took it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to receive it again. This is the command which I received from my Father."

Seeing that, while we were still powerless, Christ, in God's good time, died on behalf of the godless. Even for an upright man scarcely any one will die. For a really good man perhaps some one might even dare to die. But God puts his love for us beyond all doubt by the fact that Christ died on our behalf while we were still sinners.

For at the very beginning of my teaching I gave you the account which I had myself received-that Christ died for our sins (as the Scriptures had foretold),

It is the love of the Christ which compels us, when we reflect that, as one died for all, therefore all died;

That, whether we are still watching or have fallen asleep, we may live with him.

He 'never sinned, nor was anything deceitful ever heard from his lips.' He was abused, but he did not answer with abuse; he suffered, but he did not threaten; he entrusted himself to him whose judgments are just. And he 'himself carried our sins' in his own body to the cross, so that we might die to our sins, and live for righteousness. 'His bruising was your healing.'

For Christ himself died to atone for sins once for all--the good on behalf of the bad--that he might bring you to God; his body being put to death, but his spirit entering upon new Life.

who gave himself as a ransom on behalf of all men. This must be our testimony, as opportunities present themselves;

Then Jesus said to his disciples: "If any man wishes to walk in my steps, let him renounce self, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Calling the people and his disciples to him, Jesus said: "If any man wishes to walk in my steps, let him renounce self, take up his cross, and follow me.

And to all present he said: "If any man wishes to walk in my steps, let him renounce self, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

For even the Son of Man came, not be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

We recognize the truth that our old self was crucified with Christ, in order that the body, the stronghold of Sin, might be rendered powerless, so that we should no longer be slaves to Sin.

And that he died for all, so that the living should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died and rose for them.

For you learned with regard to your former way of living that you must cast off your old nature, which, yielding to deluding passions, grows corrupt;

Never lie to one another. Get rid of your old self and its habits,

For to me life is Christ, and death is gain. But what if the life here in the body--if this brings me fruit from my labors? Then which to choose I cannot tell! I am sorely perplexed either way! My own desire is to depart and be with Christ, for this would be far better.read more.
But, for your sakes, it may be more needful that I should still remain here in the body.

But all the things which I once held to be gains I have now, for the Christ's sake, come to count as loss. More than that, I count everything as loss, for the sake of the exceeding value of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. And for his sake I have lost everything, and count it as refuse, if I may but gain Christ and be found in union with him; Any righteousness that I have being, not the righteousness that results from Law, but the righteousness which comes through faith in Christ--the righteousness which is derived from God and is founded on faith.read more.
Then indeed I shall know Christ, and the power of his resurrection, and all that it means to share his sufferings, In the hope that, if I become like him in death, I may possibly attain to the resurrection from the dead.

And one and all should consider, not only their own interests, but also the interests of others. Let the spirit of Christ Jesus be yours also.

If I, then--'the Master' and 'the Teacher'--have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet; For I have given you an example, so that you may do just as I have done to you.

We have learned to know what love is from this--that Christ laid down his life on our behalf. Therefore we also ought to lay down our lives on behalf of our Brothers.

We love, because God first loved us. If a man says 'I love God,' and yet hates his Brother, he is a liar; for the man who does not love his Brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. Indeed, we have this Command from God-- 'He who loves God must also love his Brother.'

But the fruit produced by the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindliness, generosity, trustfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law! And those who belong to Jesus, the Christ, have already crucified their earthly nature, with its passions and its cravings.read more.
Since our Life is due to the Spirit, let us rule our conduct also by the Spirit. Do not let us grow vain, and provoke or envy one another.

In brotherly love, be affectionate to one another; in showing respect, set an example of deference to one another;

Everything is allowable! Yes, but everything is not profitable. Everything is allowable! Yes, but everything does not build up character. A man must not study his own interests, but the interests of others.

There is not one of us whose life concerns himself alone, and not one of us whose death concerns himself alone;

We, the strong, ought to take on our own shoulders the weaknesses of those who are not strong, and not merely to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his neighbor's good, to help in the building up of his character.

But take care that this right of yours does not become in any way a stumbling-block to the weak.

Bearing with one another, and, when there is any ground for complaint, forgiving one another freely. As the Master freely forgave you, so you must forgive one another.

Urge upon them to show kindness, to exhibit a wealth of good actions, to be open-handed and generous,

Nothing should be done in a factious spirit or from vanity, but each of you should with all humility regard others as of more account than himself,

Let the same spirit of sympathy animate you all, not a spirit of pride; be glad to associate with the lowly. Do not think too highly of yourselves.

Bear one another's burdens, and so carry out the Law of the Christ. If a man imagines himself to be somebody, when he is really nobody, he deceives himself.

Always humble and gentle, patient, bearing lovingly with one another,

And submit to one another from reverence for him.

Lastly, you should all be united, sympathetic, full of brotherly love, kind-hearted, humble-minded;

Again, you younger men should show deference to the older. And all of you should put on the badge of humility in mutual service, for 'God is opposed to the proud, but gives his help to the humble.'

But with you it must not be so. No, let the greatest among you become like the youngest, and him who leads like him who serves.

Remember, Brothers, to you the Call came to give you freedom. Only do not make your freedom an opportunity for self-indulgence, but serve one another in a loving spirit.

Whatever the gift that each has received, use it in the service of others, as good stewards of the varied bounty of God.

I urge you to be true shepherds of the flock of God among you, not because you are compelled, but of your own free will; not from a base love of gain, but with a ready spirit;

Then Jesus sat down opposite the chests for the Temple offerings, and watched how the people put money into them. Many rich people were putting in large sums; But one poor widow came and put in two farthings, which make a half-penny. On this, calling his disciples to him, Jesus said: "I tell you that this poor widow has put in more than all the others who were putting money into the chests;read more.
For every one else put in something from what he had to spare, while she, in her need, put in all she had--everything that she had to live on."

On going away from that place, Jesus retired to the country round Tyre and Sidon. There, a Canaanite woman of that district came out and began calling to Jesus: "Take pity on me, Master, Son of David; my daughter is grievously possessed by a demon." But Jesus did not answer her a word; and his disciples came up and begged him to send her away. "She keeps calling out after us," they said.read more.
"I was not sent," replied Jesus, "to any one except the lost sheep of Israel." But the woman came, and, bowing to the ground before him, said: "Master, help me." "It is not fair," replied Jesus, "to take the children's food and throw it to dogs." "Yes, Master," she said, "for even dogs do feed on the scraps that fall from their owners' table." "Your faith is great," was his reply to the woman; "it shall be as you wish!" And her daughter was cured that very hour.

After Jesus had reached Bethany, and while he was in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came up to him with an alabaster jar of very costly perfume, and poured the perfume upon his head as he was at table. The disciples were indignant at seeing this. "What is this waste for?" they exclaimed.read more.
"It could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to poor people." "Why are you troubling the woman?" Jesus said, when he noticed it. "For this is a beautiful deed that she has done to me. You always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this perfume on my body, she has done it for my burying. I tell you, wherever, in the whole world, this Good News is proclaimed, what this woman has done will be told in memory of her."

When Jesus was still at Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, while he was at table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of choice spikenard perfume of great value. She broke the jar, and poured the perfume on his head. Some of those who were present said to one another indignantly: "Why has the perfume been wasted like this? This perfume could have been sold for more than thirty pounds, and the money given to the poor."read more.
"Let her alone," said Jesus, as they began to find fault with her, "why are you troubling her? This is a beautiful deed that she has done for me. You always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has perfumed my body beforehand for my burial. And I tell you, wherever, in the whole world, the Good News is proclaimed, what this woman has done will be told in memory of her."

John's answer was--"A man can gain nothing but what is given him from Heaven. You are yourselves witnesses that I said 'I am not the Christ,' but 'I have been sent before him as a Messenger.' It is the bridegroom who has the bride; but the bridegroom's friend, who stands by and listens to him, is filled with joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. This joy I have felt to the full.read more.
He must become greater, and I less."

The whole body of those who had become believers in Christ were of one heart and mind. Not one of them claimed any of his goods as his own, but everything was held for the common use. The Apostles continued with great power to bear their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God's blessing rested upon them all abundantly. Nor was there any one in need among them, for all who were owners of land or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the salesread more.
And laid them at the Apostles' feet; and then every one received a share in proportion to his wants. A Levite of Cyprian birth, named Joseph, (who had received from the Apostles the additional name of 'Barnabas'--which means 'The Consoler,') Sold a farm that belonged to him, and brought the money and laid it at the Apostles' feet.

Give my greeting to Prisca and Aquila, my fellow-workers in the Cause of Christ Jesus, Who risked their own lives to save mine. It is not I alone who thank them, but all the Churches among the Gentiles thank them also.

I have another request to make of you, Brothers. You remember Stephanas and his household, and that they were the first-fruits gathered in from Greece, and set themselves to serve Christ's People.

For I have no one but him to send--no one of kindred spirit who would take the same genuine interest in your welfare. They are all pursuing their own aims and not those of Christ Jesus.

Give him, then, the heartiest of Christian welcomes, and hold such men in great honour. For it was owing to his devotion to the Master's work that he was at the point of death, having risked his own life in the effort to supply what was wanting in the help that you sent me.

Do not cause offence either to Jews or Greeks or to the Church of God; For I, also, try to please everybody in everything, not seeking my own advantage, but that of men in general, that they may be saved.

Imitate me, as I myself imitate Christ.