COME TO JESUS ~ Wednesday

Stewardship versus Selfishness

Our womans bible study just started reading/studying the book BOUNDARIES written by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend. I am sure many are wondering what a book on boundaries would even contain. This book explains how poor or healthy boundaries in our lives can affect us from our early growing up years to adulthood. If you have poor boundaries, many times you have to go back and work on healing hurts, letting go of pain and setting healthy productive boudaries.

Selfishness
Something that really stuck out to me, this week, was Chapter 6, Common Boundary Myths. A definition for a Myth..is a fiction that may look like the truth. I am going to key in on Myth #1. Going into Selfishness...it is a fixation on our own wishes and desires which may exclude our responsibility to LOVE others. God created us to Love and be loved..but we must set healthy boundaries in order to do this as he wishes. There is a difference. Having wishes and desires IS a God given trait..but they need to be kept in line with healthy goals and responsibilities. God is more interested in meeting our needs than fulfilling all of our wishes.

Paul In 2Cor 12:7-10 tells how God met his Needs, and he learned to be full and content in every situation that God put Him in...are you content and full right now?

Phil 4:12-13 go into this further:

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content to any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.

If you are afraid to set healthy boundaries..its reassuring to rest in and KNOW that God will meet your needs. It is also critical to realized God may meet your needs, but ultimately it is our job to see that these needs are met. You may think thats not right, but the Bible makes it clear to us that Our lives, not that of others, is our responsibility. We alone someday will stand at the judgement seat of Christ and give an account to HIM, for all that we have done.

Stewardship
I LOVE how this book told me..setting limits is remembering that my LIFE is a Gift from God. I am a treasure to God, that treasure needs to be taken care of carefully and well. Suppose you are a shop manager in charge for your boss. Your job is to take good care of the shop, manage it well and see it succeed. You do this so that the owner will see you are doing well. If you do not set up good limits and boundaries it may cause you to mismanage things, and thence the store owner will be upset with you.

So in my own life then, it is my responsibility to develop, my abilities, feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. To grow spiritually and emotionally is GOD's *interest* on His investment in us. When I begin to say NO to people and activities that may be hurtful to me in my life development, I then am protecting Gods investment in me.

I really came away with a much clearer understanding of how important setting Healthy boundaries for my own life is my responsibility. Like many, it feels good when others have things they want us to help in or be apart of. If we are developing spiritually, know our own limits and strengths, we will be better equipped when asked, to decipher if this is a good thing for me to be involved in or not. No, sometimes is hard to say to others, but I have learned that my No may put someone else that is ready or it is there spiritual calling in my place. Don't get caught up in thinking that they NEED me..cause God may need you somewhere else and has someone other than you ready.

Be sure to check out Jan's of Jan and Tom's Place who host Come to Jesus every Wednesday.

Hope this has helped you today...have a great week...Blessing..Lorena