Definition:
Self-seeking refers to the pursuit of one's own interests, desires, or advantages, often at the expense of others. It is characterized by a focus on personal gain and a lack of consideration for the well-being of others. In the biblical context, self-seeking is often associated with pride, selfishness, and a departure from the virtues of humility and love.

Biblical References and Themes:

1. Contrasted with Love:
The Apostle Paul, in his discourse on love, highlights the nature of true love as being selfless and not self-seeking. In 1 Corinthians 13:5 , he writes, "It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs." Here, self-seeking is presented as contrary to the essence of love, which prioritizes the needs and welfare of others.

2. Warnings Against Selfish Ambition:
The New Testament frequently warns against selfish ambition, which is closely related to self-seeking. James 3:16 states, "For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice." This verse underscores the destructive nature of self-seeking behavior, linking it to chaos and moral corruption.

3. The Example of Christ:
Jesus Christ serves as the ultimate example of selflessness, in stark contrast to self-seeking. Philippians 2:3-8 exhorts believers to emulate Christ's humility: "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. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness."

4. The Call to Deny Self:
Jesus calls His followers to a life of self-denial, which is antithetical to self-seeking. In Matthew 16:24-25 , Jesus instructs, "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." This teaching emphasizes the importance of prioritizing God's will and the needs of others over personal desires.

5. The Fruit of the Spirit:
The Apostle Paul contrasts the works of the flesh, which include selfish ambition, with the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:19-23 lists the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit, highlighting the virtues that oppose self-seeking: "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."

Theological Implications:

Self-seeking is fundamentally at odds with the Christian call to love and serve others. It reflects a heart that is not aligned with God's purposes and is often rooted in pride and a lack of trust in God's provision. The biblical narrative consistently calls believers to reject self-seeking in favor of a life marked by humility, service, and love for God and neighbor.1. (a.) Seeking one's own interest or happiness; selfish.

2. (n.) The act or habit of seeking one's own interest or happiness; selfishness.

2052. eritheia -- rivalry, hence ambition
... rivalry Definition: (the seeking of followers and adherents by means of gifts, the
seeking of followers, hence) ambition, rivalry, self-seeking; a feud, faction ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2052.htm - 7k

572. haplotes -- singleness, hence simplicity
... From haplous; singleness, ie (subjectively) sincerity (without dissimulation or
self-seeking), or (objectively) generosity (copious bestowal) -- bountifulness ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/572.htm - 7k

Letter cv. (To Pulcheria Augusta About the Self-Seeking of ...
... (To Pulcheria Augusta about the self-seeking of Anatolius.). (To Pulcheria Augusta
about the self-seeking of Anatolius.) Leo the bishop to Pulcheria Augusta. ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/letter cv to pulcheria augusta.htm

Letter cvi. To Anatolius, Bishop of Constantinople, in Rebuke of ...
... To Anatolius, Bishop of Constantinople, in rebuke of his self-seeking. To Anatolius,
Bishop of Constantinople, in rebuke of his self-seeking. ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/letter cvi to anatolius bishop.htm

Self is the Root, the Tree, and the Branches of all the Evils of ...
... Self-love, self-esteem, and self-seeking, are the very essence, and life of pride;
and the devil the first father of pride, is never absent from them, nor ...
/.../address 111 0 0 self is the.htm

The Two Masters, Self and Truth
... But the lovers of Truth worship Truth with the sacrifice of self, and ceaselessly
guard themselves against worldliness and self-seeking. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/allen/the way of peace/the two masters self and.htm

The Meaning of Sin, and the Revelation of the True Self
... This we must now expand. There is nothing morally wrong in the self-seeking of the
animal. Moral evil"sin"only arises when two conditions are fulfilled. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/beibitz/gloria crucis/iv the meaning of sin.htm

What Constitutes Disobedience to Moral Law?
... flesh, which the apostle affirms to be "enmity against God." It is the universal
representation of scripture, that sin consists in the spirit of self-seeking. ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xvi what constitutes disobedience.htm

Letter civ. Leo, the Bishop, to Marcian Augustus.
... I am surprised and grieved that the peace of the universal Church which had been
divinely restored is again being disturbed by a spirit of self-seeking. ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/letter civ leo the bishop.htm

First, I am to Consider what the Keeping of the Heart Supposes and ...
... his Maker, as the First Cause, by self-dependence; as the Chief Good, by self-love;
as the Highest Lord, by self-will; and as the Last End, by self-seeking. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/flavel/on keeping the heart/first i am to consider.htm

Pope Anterus.
... Nor can he be said to transfer himself from a smaller city to a larger, who is placed
in that position not by his own self-seeking or his own choice, but ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the decretals/pope anterus.htm

67689:67697 the Rebuke of Peter
... Very striking is the moderation of Jesus, Who does not refuse discipleship to
self-seeking wishes but only to the self-seeking will, in which wishes have ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 8 32 - 9 1 the.htm

Self-seeking (2 Occurrences)
Self-seeking. Self-same, Self-seeking. Self-sown . Noah Webster's Dictionary ...
Multi-Version Concordance Self-seeking (2 Occurrences). ...
/s/self-seeking.htm - 7k

Self-same (17 Occurrences)
Self-same. Selfsame, Self-same. Self-seeking . Multi-Version Concordance
Self-same (17 Occurrences). ... Selfsame, Self-same. Self-seeking . Reference Bible
/s/self-same.htm - 11k

Unrighteousness (57 Occurrences)
... Romans 2:8 but to those who are self-seeking, and don't obey the truth, but obey
unrighteousness, will be wrath and indignation, (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT ...
/u/unrighteousness.htm - 22k

Indignation (56 Occurrences)
... Romans 2:8 but to those who are self-seeking, and don't obey the truth, but obey
unrighteousness, will be wrath and indignation, (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS). ...
/i/indignation.htm - 24k

Reject (56 Occurrences)
... (WBS NIV). Romans 2:8 but to those who are self-seeking, and don't obey the truth,
but obey unrighteousness, will be wrath and indignation, (See NIV). ...
/r/reject.htm - 21k

Ear (670 Occurrences)
... ear is "hardened" (Isaiah 6:10 Zechariah 7:11 Matthew 13:15 Acts 28:27), or "heavy"
(Isaiah 6:10 Deuteronomy 29:4), either by self-seeking obstinacy or by the ...
/e/ear.htm - 42k

Ambitious (6 Occurrences)
... Romans 2:8 but to those who are self-seeking, and don't obey the truth, but obey
unrighteousness, will be wrath and indignation, (See NAS). ...
/a/ambitious.htm - 9k

Selfsurrender
... self-su-ren'-der: The struggle between the natural human impulses of selfseeking,
self-defence and the like, on the one hand, and the more altruistic impulse ...
/s/selfsurrender.htm - 17k

Self-sown (1 Occurrence)
Self-sown. Self-seeking, Self-sown. Selfsurrender . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(YLT). Self-seeking, Self-sown. Selfsurrender . Reference Bible.
/s/self-sown.htm - 6k

Self-surrender
... self-su-ren'-der: The struggle between the natural human impulses of selfseeking,
self-defence and the like, on the one hand, and the more altruistic impulse ...
/s/self-surrender.htm - 17k

What does it mean that love is not self-seeking (1 Corinthians 13:5)? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about self-gratification / self-pleasure? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about self-pity? | GotQuestions.org

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