Biblical Answer

Is it selfish to want to live when others suffer?

No, it is not selfish to want to live when others suffer

When considering the question of whether it is selfish to want to live when others suffer, we must first define what selfishness means. In the Christian context, selfishness is defined as seeking one's own good at the expense of others. However, this is not the same as living for oneself. In fact, Scripture tells us to do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself (Phil. 2:3 NASB).

The distinction between selfishness and living for oneself

The distinction between selfishness in the wrong sense and living for oneself is crucial. While it may seem that living for oneself is selfish, this is not necessarily the case. In fact, living for God and for others is wisdom and life indeed. We do not begin to find ourselves until we have become willing to lose ourselves in the service of Christ and of others. This means that we must care for those who cannot care for themselves, refusing to give up on those who themselves feel like giving up.

A biblical perspective on suffering

From a biblical perspective, suffering is a part of life that can have some benefit. Instead of seeking to insulate ourselves from it, we must recognize that we cannot insulate ourselves from it or from the suffering who need our compassion. This means that we must live for others, even in the midst of our own suffering. As Jesus says, "Give me All. I dont want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your talents that I will leave you with nothing. What I am after is a person you are not. I want you." (This quote is not a direct reference from the Bible but is an illustration of the biblical teaching that we must live for others). By living for others, we find ourselves and discover our true purpose in life. Therefore, it is not selfish to want to live when others suffer, but rather it is a demonstration of our love for others and our commitment to living for God.