With the arrival of August, many ministries and activities begin again for another year. Rally Days for educational ministries are celebrated. Parochial schools are back in session. Some of the meetings and gatherings that were suspended for the summer season are on the schedule once again. We will be seeing more people, spending more time with one another, and have more demands on our time once again.

This makes August an excellent time to give some thought to boundaries. How will we appropriately interact with others in a Christ-like manner? How will we appropriately allocate our time as good stewards of the time the Lord gives? How will we appropriately care for ourselves so that we don’t get burned out? God gave the Ten Commandments to establish boundaries for His people, and those boundaries were not given to enslave us, but rather to provide positive direction so we might safely live life with spiritual, physical and emotional wellbeing. Those commands give wonderful guidance as to how we love God and love people.

In terms of personal relationship boundaries, faithfulness, commitment, trustworthiness, honesty, and much more is needed to keep relationships healthy. With professional boundaries, cooperation, integrity, speaking the truth in love, managing time well, maintaining confidentiality, and much more is needed to keep ministry healthy and viable.  

Other boundary issues that need our consideration: How do I appropriately use technology in a God-pleasing way? What are my boundaries for self-care, devotional life, nutrition, exercise…? What are the proper boundaries in managing financial issues as a good steward?

As the Fall season begins with all its renewed possibilities to engage with others and refocus ministry, let’s reconsider our boundaries. May they be God-pleasing ones that lead to spiritual, physical, and emotional wellbeing.

“Oh that they had such a heart as this, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!”  Deut. 5:29  ESV  

God Bless!