The Bible And Boundaries

Boundaries have become a buzzword the last few years. I watched a short on YouTube the other day. Where a man was going through a neighborhood asking if he could come in and use their shower. Would you have let him in?

The person who best demonstrated boundaries was Jesus. He had clear boundaries with people in His life, and throughout the Bible we can see why boundaries are important, and even which boundaries are important.

God sets boundaries for us.

The most obvious way the Bible puts boundaries on display is almost so obvious that it’s easy to miss. God set the world in motion with boundaries. There is a law or a rule that the world follows. In the beginning, God started creating boundaries.

Genesis 1:3-4 states, “And God said, let there be light, and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness.”

He set boundaries for day and night, and for land and water. Boundaries taught people God’s holiness. There is a moral boundaries people God’s righteousness. Social and civil boundaries taught us the value of all in the nation (or at least it should).

Later in scripture, God governed His people and showed us how boundaries are meant to protect us and invite us into healthy relationships with Him, and with one another.

God’s Word gives us clarity by showing us the boundaries that He has provided as protection for women, children, and all in society. In the law, God provides those boundaries for Israel as a community. The ceremonial boundaries taught them God’s holiness. The moral boundaries taught them God’s righteousness. The social and civil boundaries taught them the value of all in the nation.

Jesus clearly demonstrated boundaries throughout His life on earth. He often set boundaries by showing us that He needed to go be alone at times. Luke 5:16 says, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Some conversations are meant to happen between us and God.

Others happen with trusted friends, but Jesus was cautious with His relational boundaries. He had varying levels of trust with different people. He also didn’t just give anything to anyone who asked.

There seems to be a culture of shame around saying “no” and wondering if it’s unkind or unloving to set boundaries with people. However, the Son of God wasn’t just a “yes” man. He was intentional in everything He did.

When Jesus had heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was for two days (John 11:6) and showed up when He could. He didn’t let some of His friends demand that He go back on His boundary and change His mind, even in a time of crisis. This account is taught in so many ways, but what I noticed was how intense and personal the conflict was.

If I really need a friend, I would be upset if they didn’t show up for me. But Jesus honored His boundary. Instead, He came when He could. He didn’t apologize for His boundaries. He set boundaries lovingly and intentionally, and we have the freedom to do as well.

When we set boundaries we become more Christlike. We sense that the Holy Spirit convicts us as we pursue lives with greater holiness. We stop watching the television show, we cringe at certain language or at comments that are full of mindsets that don’t reflect the heart of God. We sense a need to spend less time with certain people, and we start to care more deeply for those who God reveals His heart for to us.

Romans 8:5-6 tells us, “Those who live according to the flesh have their mind set on what the flesh desires. But those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”

As followers of Jesus, we need to set new boundaries to put in place our own actions and thoughts. We are told to think about in Philippians 4:8, “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -think about such things.”

God set up boundaries, Jesus modeled those boundaries for us throughout His life, and we are encouraged to continue setting relational and personal boundaries to pursue a life governed by the Spirit.