What Does It Take?

I am selfish. How can I change? Selfishness comes from the desire to survive, blown way out of shape. So how can one who is selfish change? I would think the only answers are through prayer and practice: pray for heart-change and act out not to be selfish by giving, until not being selfish becomes a habit.

I have also asked myself why I want to be holy before G-d. Is it for me, so that I will be able to look you in the face and unflinchingly tell you, "I am holy!" The thought is ludicrous, yet I know that in my past, there were people who did this, and it didn't bother them at all. In fact it didn't bother any of us who heard them, until after I had left there. Now, it seems so foreign to me. Certainly as I gain holiness, I will gain humility? Then, would it even cross my mind to tell you, "I am holy now"? Somehow, it just doesn't seem to connect.

I found the following Scripture to be very descriptive of sanctification:
◌ James 1:21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
1:22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
1:23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
1:24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
1:25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
1:26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.
1:27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Since I looked at the elements of holy living, I thought it necessary to also look at the elements of the unholy life. First, I shall look at the Ten Words, which tell us, succinctly, how to live. The Ten Words give us the basics:

From Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5
◌ 1. I AM the L-RD who brought you out of Egypt.
If we have been born again, we have been, each one, delivered from our personal Egypt. We can say this right along with the rest of Israel!

◌ 2. Have no other gods
Nothing should take the place reserved for G-d and G-d alone, so that time, those finances, that worship, that charity, etc. should never go to any place other than to that He desires.

◌ 3. Don't take My Name in vain
Some believe that this is only in speech. I don't. According to the readings in Torah, which explain the Ten Words, it is how we act, how we respond, how we think (which leads to our actions) as believers. Taking His Name in vain is also attributing to G-d the things He did not do. It can also be making religious claims for which He is not responsible.

◌ 4. Remember Sabbath
Keeping it holy, set apart, special, making it a delight; worshiping alone and together as a community, and yes, studying to show ourselves approved.

◌ 5. Honor your parents
G-d blessed me with parents who let me live to see the day I would come to know Him, would have my own precious children, and would have my own precious grandchildren. On top of that, I get to have a whole eternity to enjoy!! Do I deserve more? What more can I ask? G-d is good!

(A little off-topic, but I have come across people who believe that both G-d and life owe them much more. I have heard them say (Have I also said it?), "I deserve more" or "I deserve better!" Never ask for what you deserve -- you would not want that! Life (or simply common sense?) has taught me that such persons have not yet learned to be thankful.)

◌ 6. Do not murder
Well, I can happily write that I haven't murdered anyone lately! Have I?
James 1:26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.
3:5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!
6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.
8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.
"Their tongue is a deadly arrow; It speaks deceit; With his mouth one speaks peace to his neighbor, But inwardly he sets an ambush for him" [Jeremiah 9:8].

◌ 7. Do not commit adultery
Well, haven't done that, either. Have I? Not even, as Jimmy Carter made famous, in my heart?

◌ 8. Do not steal
Is this Word only about kidnapping as has been taught? And shall we say, "Well, the IRS is different." Or shall we say that the cashier gave us the extra change, so it's her fault; he'll learn by it; it's not my problem. What about library books, bank pens we took accidentally and have not returned, personal copies on the machine at work, the hammer I "borrowed' from work.

◌ 9. Do not bear false witness
Most of us don't have that much opportunity to witness in court, but this goes much further. What about at work, when we are called to make an honest assessment about an issue, an employee, or an employer? Anything untrue that is said, written, or insinuated of anyone or any entity is also false witness.

◌ 10. Do not covet
And the final Word covers it all, because it appears that all the other nine come from covetousness: (1) not recognizing G-d's place; (2) putting other things/people in the place only G-d should occupy in our lives; (3) misusing His name for vain purposes; (4) not setting apart the one day out of seven for Him; (5) demanding more than G-d, by His unique and personal design for you, gave you; (6) murdering with the lips for our personal jollies; (7) adultery with the eyes and thoughts because we have objectified someone for whom Yeshua died!; (8) theft is obviously nearly 100% from covetousness; (9) false witness is almost invariably a selfish act