I know that this should be obvious. But it is not so obvious to me.
The Bible talks about self-seeking. It says in 1 Corinthians 13 that love is not self-seeking. I don't fully understand what that means. Does that mean that you can't have any kind of ambition for your own life? And what about people who keep to themselves? How does one learn not to be self-seeking, while minding their own business?
I guess I am saying that I don't understand the difference between self-seeking and completely minding your own business.
Amplified version:
(1Co 13:1) If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love [for others growing out of God's love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction].
(1Co 13:2) And if I have the gift of prophecy [and speak a new message from God to the people], and understand all mysteries, and [possess] all knowledge; and if I have all [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love [reaching out to others], I am nothing.
(1Co 13:3) If I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it does me no good at all.
(1Co 13:4) Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant.
(1Co 13:5) It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured.
(1Co 13:6) It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail].
(1Co 13:7) Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].
(1Co 13:8) Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for the gift of special knowledge, it will pass away.
the Bible defines and interprets itself, so 'self-seeking' would not "endure with patience and serenity", would not 'be kind and thoughtful', would be 'jealous and envious', would 'brag', would 'be proud and arrogant', etc.
'minding your own business' would be willing to help a stranger, but respectful of a stranger's privacy too.
but we want to be led by God, and He is Love (1John 4:15-17); He knows what's in a stranger's heart, and when they would be receptive to Him ministering to them through us