Ministry is hard work. But it is good work. How could serving and equipping people not be good work?

And ministry is necessary work. It is work we are called to. For many of us, we might say, we were created for this work.

Yet, the thing we can never forget in ministry is that He who called us is the ONLY ONE who can complete what He has begun.

But sometimes we do forget. After starting our ministry in Christ and relying on His Spirit, we may think we can perfect, advance, or grow things by our own wisdom, strength, and effort. We begin to believe two things:

1. Ministry is the most important work there is.

2. We are the most important thing to that work.

But the work of ministry, like any and all work we are given and gifted to do, is a means toward an end. It is never the end in itself. It is never our identity. It is never our purpose. Christ, who called us, is our identity and our purpose. Ultimately, He created us for Himself, not for ministry.

With that in mind, here are three practical boundaries for good ministry.

1. THE BOUNDARY OF SELF-CARE

A mother must take care of herself first if she is to take care of her children. When the care of others is dependent on us, it is for their sake that we take care of ourselves. We must ensure we are eating and sleeping well. We must be sure we are exercising and resting well. We must not give up our outlets for refreshing and stress relief, and joy.

In ministry, it is the easiest thing in the world to give up all your time. It seems necessary and right to always drop whatever you’re doing to make room and time for others. But not all good things are necessary things (like answering anyone’s texts after dinner time). And not all bad feelings are proof something is wrong (like feeling bad for leaving a text unanswered until morning).

If we don’t take care of ourselves, we will take worse care of those God has called us to serve. Scripture never says that laying down your life for others means allowing bad eating, sleeping or working habits to develop.

2. THE BOUNDARY OF FAMILY FIRST

Minutes before my ordination to ministry over 20 years ago, David Edwards said to me, “The church will applaud you if you leave your wife to visit them. But God will applaud you if you leave your church to care for your wife.”

By “leave your church,” he meant its constant demands. As many of you know, over the last 25 years in ministry, I have had one non-negotiable. As much as possible, I have scheduled no meetings for myself at night. It is a rare thing if I do. I determined to be home with my children for dinner and with my wife after. I haven’t been perfect, but my children will never be able to say in truth that I sacrificed them for the work of ministry.

Busyness and success in ministry are idols too easily and quickly fashioned in the heart. But, like all idols, if you worship them, you will become like them. You will become deaf, mute, and blind to Jesus and the very things that qualify you for ministry in the first place. They are to love your wife and give yourself up for her, and to love your children and give yourself to them as an example.

3. THE BOUNDARY OF DIGITAL SPACE

Not every generation will understand the need for this boundary. 

My phone has become necessary in a lot of ways. Yet, all those ways bring with them unnecessary distractions.

I’m a photographer. So social media is key for me sharing, learning, and growing in that gift. As a pastor, I use social media for church content. I “need” apps for working out, listening to music and podcasts, watching interviews. For design, writing, email, messaging family. For fantasy football (yes, I play fantasy football!). And for many other things.

The truth is you have to fight to get off your phone. So fight, don’t give in. 

• Set up schedules
• Put it away when you get home
• Don’t use it in front of your children
• Put it in gray scale
• Personally, I have found the Brick app to be the most helpful.

Each of us will have our own digital boundaries to set up and disciplines to develop. But we must create space. Distance. We must take control. Actually, we must use self-control. In all things. At all times. And for this, we have the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is always stronger than the fight we put up in our own strength.

GROW BIG IN CHRIST

No garden was ever fruitful without boundaries. The garden of ministry God has planted us in can be, should be, abundantly fruitful. So let’s pursue the right and necessary boundaries to grow big in Christ – in the ministry of Christ entrusted to us.