Walking With Christ

Genesis 3:24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.(ESV)

A good friend of mine asked a question about boundaries and charity recently. We can go to the bible for many examples where Christians are called to charity. Fortunately, the bible is also rich in examples of healthy boundaries as well.

God is limitless in power, knowledge, and presence—yet He has boundaries. These boundaries are self-imposed and serve a purpose: to protect what is good and holy. When Adam and Eve crossed God’s boundary, the response was swift but loving. God made the first sacrifice to clothe them, but He also removed them from the garden, placing cherubim to guard the way back.

God’s boundaries matter—and so do ours.

As beings made in God’s image, we are meant to follow His example. Boundaries define what we will not do and what we will not tolerate. A boundary without enforcement is just a wish, and consistently crossed boundaries lead to disrespect, misuse, and broken relationships.

Many Christians struggle with boundaries because we’re called to forgive and turn the other cheek. But forgiveness is not a free pass to repeat harmful behavior. God’s response to Adam and Eve was one of love—He provided for their needs but closed the door to Eden. He set consequences to protect what mattered most: the possibility of eventual restoration.

Healthy boundaries protect and empower growth.

With family and friends, it’s often hardest to say “no.” We want to help those we love, but enabling unchanging patterns of behavior does more harm than good. Growth comes through hardships, not by shielding someone from every consequence. A parent who does everything for a capable child may feel loving, but in reality, they’re robbing that child of independence and resilience.

Consider the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15). The father loved his son enough to let him leave and face the consequences of his choices. When the son returned, broken and repentant, the father welcomed him home with open arms—but he didn’t divide the inheritance again. The father set boundaries, balancing forgiveness with wisdom.

Luke 15:31-32 (31)And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. (32)It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’(ESV)

What boundaries have you had to set because of the behavior of a loved one? How much did you have to wrestle with setting and actually enforcing the boundary? How has the relationship changed since setting this boundary?