Unselfishness

Unselfishness — the disposition to seek others' good rather than one's own — is presented in the NT as a direct implication of the gospel and the love commandment. Paul's description of love in 1 Corinthians 13:5 includes that love "does not insist on its own way." His appeal in Romans 15:1–3 is explicit: "We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves... For Christ did not please himself." The Christ hymn of Philippians 2:3–8 grounds unselfishness in the incarnation: "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves... Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus."

Paul's own apostolic ministry exemplifies this: he foregoes his apostolic right to financial support to avoid putting an obstacle before the gospel (1 Cor. 9:12), and he becomes "all things to all people" for the sake of their salvation (1 Cor. 9:22). Ultimately, Christ's incarnation and cross are the supreme demonstration of unselfishness: "though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor" (2 Cor. 8:9).