Selfishness is the quality or state of being selfish; lack of consideration for other people. It’s synonyms are ego-centrism, egotism, egomania, introversion etc. Wikipedia defines it as being concerned excessively or exclusively , for oneself or ones own advantage, pleasure or welfare, regardless of others. Selfishness is the opposite of altruism or selflessness.
To be selfish is not all the time very bad, because to be selfish means the one so accused is paying too much attention to his own wants, needs and well-being, and not enough attention to others. A typical human being is selfish, because the tendency to be selfish is inherent in human.
However, a selfish behaviour has been criticized as immoral. It is expected that a good person thinks of others first. However Jesus said there is no good person. He said It is more blessed to give than to receive. And there is that saying “Ask not what your country can do for you ; ask what you can do for your country.
This topic reminds me of one of my children while he was young and just growing up, if he was given a pack of biscuit, and was immediately asked to give me some of it, he would refuse blatantly as if it wasn’t i who gave it to him.
Selfishness is not limited to only being possessive of the basic needs of food, drink, clothing and shelter, it can also be exhibited in terms of how you view and attend to the needs and concerns of others. A selfish person is too possessive. He wants to own everything and everybody. He finds it difficult to let go that which he/she is holding forgetting that without letting go he can’t hold new or bigger gift with the hand.
The word of God has this to say about selfishness “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility regard one another as more important….do not look out for your own personal interest but also for the interests of other”(Phil.2:3-4) To be Contd.