Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Boundaries”
Our Bible verse for today: “Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.” 1 Corinthians 15:33
Our thought for today: “Some people cannot be allowed into our lives.”
So far this month we’ve learned why boundaries are important and we’ve learned about different types of boundaries. We’ve also been considering various strategies for developing and maintaining good boundaries. Today I want us to consider the most drastic and probably the most effective type of boundary and that is, distance.
The sad truth is that some people simply cannot be allowed into our lives. In some cases the only effective boundary is geography – we have to make them go away and stay away. For example, simply as a matter of safety a woman in an abusive relationship has to make the man get out and stay out. In such cases a safe boundary requires distance.
When I work with the men in the jails whose problems stem primarily from drug addiction, I always explain to them that once we get them out of jail we have to get them into a brand new environment and keep them surrounded with people who do not use drugs. If they return to their old surroundings, filled with their old drug using friends, they will quickly return to their old habits. Again in this case, the appropriate and most effective boundary is geography. We have to create a substantial amount of distance between them and their old environment.
In 1 Corinthians 15:33 Paul cautions us regarding a basic truism of human nature: “We become like those we associate with.” Over time you will be influenced by and become like those you spend the most time with. If you spend enough time with bank robbers, soon you will probably be robbing banks too. If the people around you commonly use profanity, before long you probably will too. If your child is hanging around with the troublemakers at school and now he is starting to be a troublemaker too, it’s time from him to get some new friends. Again in those cases a boundary has to be created and maintained which removes those people from your life.
It’s sad and it can seem to be a drastic measure, but sometimes there are people who simply cannot be allowed into our lives. In those cases the appropriate boundary is a geographic one, we have to make them go away.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 