What the Bible says about Eleeo
(From Forerunner Commentary)
In the New Testament, the Greek word eleeo occurs only once (Matthew 18:33, "pity"), and it means "to be kind," "tender." In contrast, self-pity is the opposite—not tenderness to oneself but an abusiveness that causes great stress and harm. It shows faithlessness by breaking the first commandment in placing oneself higher in importance than the Creator God. This obsession with self interferes with God's development of righteous character in us.
In essence, self-pity is excessive love of oneself. Thus, a simple cure for self-pity is caring for someone else's welfare more than self—in a word, selflessness. Outgoing concern, love toward others is outlined by the Ten Commandments, for they show love toward God and love toward neighbor. The saints who overcome Satan and the world are known by the trait that "they did not love their lives to the death." They are willing to lay down their lives for their friends (John 15:13).
Martin G. Collins
Overcoming (Part 10): Self-PityRelated Topics: Character | Character, Building | Faithlessness | First Commandment | Kindness | Obsession with Self | Outgoing Concern | Self Absorption | Self Centeredness | Self Concern | Self Pity | Selfishness | Selflessness | Ten Commandments | Tenderness | The First Commandment | The Ten Commandments