By Claudia Johnson
Christian Women’s Leadership Center
Few jobs bring more satisfaction than serving others in ministries that bring glory to God, but healthy boundaries are important for long-term stamina.
Here are five suggestions that might help:
1. Establish the “why” in ministry and check the agenda against that why.
When we know our why, we can limit our time on things that don’t match it and focus on the most important work.
Robin Revis Pyke finds encouragement by using Jesus’ example in setting boundaries. She says, “As we all know, our strengths can quickly become our weaknesses if not used wisely. I am aware of this, so I must seek God daily for His leading and guidance with my planning and serving. If not, I can quickly become a hindrance to my own ministry efforts.
Once I learned that Jesus set boundaries, I no longer felt selfish for setting boundaries.”
2. Stay focused on the missions part of the ministry.
Once we know our why, we should periodically check to see that we are limiting our involvement to those activities that focus on missions.
3. Set time limits on work and build in time for important relationships. When we choose not to protect family time, others will choose to use that unprotected time instead.
4. Create time to refuel. Knowing that we need to stay healthy in order to help others gives us the courage to say yes and no with confidence.
Gail Hallman shares, “We cannot be any help to anyone else if we do not keep ourselves strong and healthy in our relationship with God and with others.”
5. Live within God’s boundaries. Christians often get a bad rap as rule followers, yet following God’s commands is meant to protect us.
Joy Bolton said, “Boundaries keep egos in check. Boundaries are a guide for ethical practices. Boundaries guide leaders in how they treat coworkers. … Living within God’s boundaries is protection. And we are free inside those boundaries. I am free to be patient. I am free to speak truthfully. I am free to work with integrity. I am free to work without expectation of reward or recognition.”
Boundaries serve those who serve others. Let’s consider setting a few so that we’ll still be around for the long term.
Editor’s Note — Claudia Johnson is director of CWLC. This blog post is an excerpt of what originally appeared on cwlcleaders.com.
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