The Best 50+ Bible Verses About Selflessness

Ever wondered how to live a life that's more about giving than receiving? You're not alone. Many people seek guidance on how to be more selfless, and there's no better place to find it than in the Bible.

From ancient wisdom to timeless truths, the Bible offers a treasure trove of verses that inspire selflessness. Ready to dive in and discover how these teachings can transform your life?

50 Bible Verses About Selflessness

10 Bible Verses on Selflessness in Service

• "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." — Mark 10:45
• "For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." — Galatians 5:13
• "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." — Philippians 2:3-4
• "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." — 1 Peter 4:10
• "Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." — Matthew 20:26-28
• "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you." — John 13:14-15
• "Not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." — Romans 12:11
• "For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more." — 1 Corinthians 9:19
• "For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake." — 2 Corinthians 4:5
• "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." — Colossians 3:23-24

10 Bible Verses on Humility and Selflessness

• "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men." — Philippians 2:5-7
• "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up." — James 4:10
• "By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life." — Proverbs 22:4
• "And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." — Matthew 23:12
• "Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for 'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time." — 1 Peter 5:5-6
• "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." — Luke 14:11
• "For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith." — Romans 12:3
• "For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist,” says the Lord. “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word." — Isaiah 66:2
• "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" — Micah 6:8
• "With all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love." — Ephesians 4:2

10 Bible Verses on Love and Selflessness

• "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil." — 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
• "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." — John 15:13
• "Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another." — Romans 12:10
• "By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." — 1 John 3:16
• "And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma." — Ephesians 5:2
• "But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection." — Colossians 3:14
• "And above all things have fervent love for one another, for 'love will cover a multitude of sins.'" — 1 Peter 4:8
• "Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." — Galatians 6:2
• "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." — 1 John 4:11
• "Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." — Romans 13:10

10 Bible Verses on Selflessness in Giving

• "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." — 2 Corinthians 9:7
• "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." — Luke 6:38
• "The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself." — Proverbs 11:25
• "But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly." — Matthew 6:3-4
• "I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’" — Acts 20:35
• "But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." — Hebrews 13:16
• "Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share." — 1 Timothy 6:18
• "He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will pay back what he has given." — Proverbs 19:17
• "For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have." — 2 Corinthians 8:12
• "And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, 'Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.'" — Luke 21:1-4

10 Bible Verses on Selflessness in Sacrifice

• "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." — Romans 12:1
• "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." — Hebrews 10:24-25
• "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." — John 3:16
• "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." — Philippians 2:8
• "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her." — Ephesians 5:25
• "But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?" — 1 John 3:17
• "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.'" — Matthew 16:24-25
• "Then the king said to Araunah, 'No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing.' So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver." — 2 Samuel 24:24
• "Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." — Hebrews 13:15-16
• "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." — Galatians 2:20

What Does the Bible Say About Selflessness

The Bible's teachings on selflessness are profound and transformative, urging us to live lives of service, humility, love, giving, and sacrifice. These themes are woven throughout the scriptures, offering a roadmap for a life that prioritizes others over oneself.

Service is a cornerstone of selflessness, as exemplified by Jesus, who "did not come to be served, but to serve" (Mark 10:45). This call to serve others is echoed in Galatians 5:13, which encourages us to "serve one another" through love. By putting others' needs before our own, we embody the true spirit of selflessness.

Humility is another key aspect, with verses like Philippians 2:5-7 reminding us to adopt the mindset of Christ, who "made Himself of no reputation." Humbling ourselves, as James 4:10 suggests, allows us to be lifted up by God, fostering a spirit of genuine selflessness.

Love and giving go hand in hand, as seen in 1 Corinthians 13:4-5, which describes love as "not seeking its own." Acts 20:35 reinforces this by stating, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." These teachings encourage us to give generously and love unconditionally.

Finally, the theme of sacrifice is poignantly captured in John 3:16, where God's ultimate act of love is giving His only Son. This ultimate sacrifice serves as a powerful reminder of the lengths we should go to for others.

By embracing these biblical principles, we can cultivate a life of selflessness, bringing hope and compassion to those around us.

How to Apply Selflessness Bible Verses in Daily Life

Applying the teachings of selflessness in daily life can start with small, intentional actions. Begin your day with a prayer asking for guidance to serve others selflessly.

Consider these actionable steps:

• Offer to help a colleague with a task, even if it means staying a bit later at work.
• Listen actively when someone is speaking, showing genuine interest in their concerns.
• Perform random acts of kindness, such as paying for a stranger's coffee or leaving a kind note for a neighbor.

Incorporate humility by acknowledging others' contributions and giving credit where it's due. This can foster a more collaborative and supportive environment.

Practice generosity by donating to a charity or volunteering your time to a local organization. These acts of giving can make a significant impact on your community.

Embrace sacrifice by putting others' needs before your own, whether it's giving up your seat on the bus or spending your weekend helping a friend move.

To deepen your understanding and faith, explore more prayers and Bible verses on PrayersFor or use our Bible Verse Generator.