Proverbs 25:16-17

“Do you like honey? Don’t eat too much of it, or it will make you sick! Don’t visit your neighbor too often, or you will outwear your welcome!” Proverbs 25:16-17

Boundaries: A chosen set of behaviors that I will and will not accept for myself or from others.

Boundaries are a Balance of Grace and Truth—they Bend but don’t Break.

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of the God’s grace in its various forms”. 1 Peter 4:10

“Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is Christ.” Ephesians 4:15

God and Christ Sets and Respects Boundaries. 

God in Creation sets boundaries.  (Genesis 1-2)

Jesus’s parable of the Prodigal Son shows how God respects our choices. (Luke 15)

Jesus in John 5 asked crippled man, “Do you want to be made well?”

Jesus in Revelation 3:20 knocks at the door but does not break it down to enter.

You must Set Boundaries on Yourself.

“The fruit of the Spirit is … self-control” Galatians 5:22-23

“A second commandment is equally important: Love your neighbor as you love yourself” Matthew 22:39

“Above all, guard your heart, for everything you do flows form it.” Proverbs 4:23

“The biggest boundary breaker is not with others: it’s with yourself!”

You Must Set Boundaries on Others.

“They load you with impossible demands that they themselves don’t even try to keep”. Matthew 23:4 (LB)

Four signs that boundaries with someone is being violated. You feel:

Apprehension:  You are stressed, anxious, fearful when you are around this person.

Disadvantaged: You feel taken advantage of, underappreciated, and manipulated. You feel pressured to keep doing what you don’t want to do.

Powerless: You feel unable to say “no” without suffering negative consequences from the person.

Unequal: You feel responsible for their happiness, or they make you feel inferior to them as if they are superior to you.

Learn to Love Without Rescuing Others.

“For we are each responsible for our own conduct”. Galatians 6:5 (NLT)

Have the Courage to Confront Those who Violate Your Boundaries.

“Stop lying to each other; tell the truth, for we are parts of each other and when we lie to each other we are hurting ourselves.” Ephesians 4:25 (LB)

Don’t be Afraid to use the Word “No” when Appropriate.

Give Appropriate Consequences when your Boundaries are Violated.

“Hot-tempered people must pay the penalty. If you rescue them once, you will have to do it again.” Proverbs 19:19 (NLT)

Establishing Boundaries is the key to bringing order, productivity, and fruitfulness in your life.

You must believe you deserve an unflustered life.