Godly Boundaries

“Our goal is to stay within the boundaries of God’s plan for us.” 2 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV.

Your boundaries include the expansive margins of God’s will and intent for your life.

My thoughts and comments today are about “Godly boundaries.”

Boundaries can feel like confinements when wrongly imposed by yourself or others. Sure boundaries also involve limitations; some of the limits of those are also protections. Within those protections are freedom and safety. It is true that, “Good fences make good neighbors.” Clear lines of what is yours and what is your neighbor’s contribute to neighborliness. A property line establishes where your rights begin and end, and where your responsibilities to respect and protect another’s rights begin.

Imagine the chaos of a world without boundaries. Boundaries determine legality, govern civility, and establish social propriety. Everyone lives with boundaries, even those who try to ignore or reject them. But within those is where your life is lived best, especially when the boundaries match the expansive margins of God’s will and intent for your life. Outside of those you might find success for awhile, but you will never have lasting satisfaction. You may achieve much, but never as much as you would have.

The Apostle Paul chose the analogy of boundaries when responding to others’ dispute of his spiritual authority, “We will not boast of authority we do not have. Our goal is to stay within the boundaries of God’s plan for us.” 2 Corinthians 10:13 NLT. Paul was not describing some measure of restriction. Like Paul, your passion should be to achieve the full measure of God’s assignment – nothing more, nothing less. That would be a worthy goal for every one of us.

The will of God is not restrictive, except to protect you from harm or misdirected effort, therefore wasted energy, resource, and time. Godly boundaries both restrict and release you. They restrict you from where you should not be but release you to realize His highest aspirations within you. In fact, Paul expected, “Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand, so that we can preach the Gospel in the regions beyond you.” 2 Corinthians 10:15-16 NIV. God rewards faithfulness with expanding opportunities for an ever growing fruitfulness. As Paul was faithful in the measure of ministry entrusted to him, he anticipated opportunities for extended boundaries to “preach the Gospel in the regions beyond . .”

For most of us, the problem is not that God’s limits are constraining; the more common problem is a person’s failure to know and fully achieve the extent of His intent for you. Your God has great opportunities for you; but along with those come His expectations of you. “To whom much is given, from him much will be required.” Luke 12:48 NKJV. Be encouraged by this truth; with God’s expectations, the Holy Spirit will provide the natural abilities, spiritual giftedness, and ample anointing to achieve His expectations and fulfill your assignment. “Present your bodies a living sacrifice . . that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Read Romans 12:1-2 NKJV. In the perfect will of God every fulfillment is found.

My prayer for you today is that your life will abound in fruitfulness.