Living Within Limits

Why do we push past God-ordained limits?

Many of us live what appears to be a limitless life (though no one can truly live in a limitless manner!).

We try to do too much in an hour, day, week, year, and lifetime. We willingly take on unnecessary debt and live beyond our financial limits. We often stack so much on our schedules that we can't rest.

Why?

It seems like churches would challenge us on this practice. It seems like they would call us back to sanity. It seems like they would shepherd us to live faithfully within our God-ordained limits. But many churches exacerbate the problem. Some churches in our day regularly ask us to go beyond our limits to serve and give.

Perhaps the church has gone beyond its own limits and now needs the people in the church to go beyond their limits to make it work. Perhaps the leaders are only considering the organizational vision and not the members’ limits. Perhaps the leader is unhealthy and expects others to live the same way. Perhaps it is ambition. Perhaps it is an addiction to activity and an addiction to going beyond limits. Perhaps it is fear. ("I'll fall behind others if I don't live this way.") Perhaps the cause is cultural: many of us live in a culture where constantly pushing past limits is celebrated, and so we simply don't see it as a problem.

I'm not sure what the reason is which undergirds this practice (and perhaps there are multiple!). But I've heard more stories than I can count of churches using guilt to motivate people to go far beyond their limits with time and money.

God has created the universe with many limits. Undoubtedly, there are times when we sense the nudge from the Holy Spirit to go beyond our limits, but the general way that God has created the universe is to function within the limits that he has designed for it.

Think about a few of these human limits:

• God is omniscient (he knows everything), but we are not. We have finite knowledge, and we must learn.

• God is omnipresent (he is everywhere), but we are not. We are in one place at one time.

• God is omnipotent (he is unlimited in power and ability), but we are not. We are limited.

In chapter five of his excellent book, Emotionally Healthy Discipleship, Pete Scazzero says this about embracing limits:

"They're necessary because limits are a deeply spiritual issue. When we surrender to them, we acknowledge that we are not God. God is God and we are not."[1]

Scazzero goes on to demonstrate the limits seen in many parts of Scripture. And he also explains the limits that are common to all of us: (1) personality; (2) season of life; (3) marriage / singleness; (4) emotional, physical, and intellectual capacities; (5) limits from family of origin; and (6) time limits (which often change with age and decreasing energy!).[2]

It seems to me (biblically, theologically, and practically) that God desires for us to live within his established limits. At times, however, we are to discern by faith when he wants us to go beyond them.

But we often live in the exact opposite manner (I know I have at times!). In other words, we generally blow past our limits (and call it “sacrifice” or “living by faith”), and once in a while we live within limits.

That way of living sounds great to many Americans. Americans hate limits. Think about the narratives in our culture. We constantly hear stories in sports, music, movies, books, business, politics, family life, and more about success and going from rags to riches. “You can do anything and accomplish anything you want in life.” People push beyond limits and attempt to accomplish the impossible. In a way, that is the story describing how our country was founded.

Think, for a minute, about the self-help, business, and leadership book bestsellers. Many are about trying to do more with less. Many describe strategies for how to spend time more effectively.

Think about biographies. The stories often start in a small, unlikely way and end with enormous success after overcoming impossible obstacles.

Think about the recipe for success. It is usually to outwork everyone else (and it often includes an obsessive focus while neglecting other people and things).

Think about the rise of artificial intelligence. Much of the discussion is how much more we can accomplish. "I can get so much more done!"

(For the record, I'm not automatically opposed to using time well, accomplishment, or artificial intelligence. I'm just pointing out how unhealthy these things can become if it is yet another attempt to pridefully live beyond our God-ordained limits.)

For many years, I've seen the toll of living beyond limits. I've seen the toll that it takes on people and families in almost every way: physically, emotionally, spiritually, relationally, and financially. Sometimes these expectations are thrust upon us through unwelcome circumstances (including traumatic life events). Sometimes it is poor financial decisions. Other times it is a harsh boss or a harsh working environment (which reminds me of Pharoah's harsh treatment of the Israelites!). Sometimes though, surprisingly, it is unhealthy expectations of church members.

Is this how God is asking us to live?

Let's look at a few snapshots from the life of Jesus. In his humanity, he had limits:

• Jesus lived as a human in one place at one time.

• Jesus slept (Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, and Luke 8:22-25).

• Jesus prayed: sometimes early in the morning (Mark 1:35); sometimes in the afternoon (Matthew 14:23); and sometimes at night / overnight (Luke 6:12).

• Jesus ate: with the lost (Matthew 9:10-13, Mark 2:15-17, Luke 5:29-32); at a wedding (John 2:1-11); in the homes of other people (Luke 7:36-50; 10:25-42); with his disciples (Matthew 26:20-30, Mark 14:17-26, Luke 22:14-38); at the sea after his resurrection (Luke 24:41-43, John 21:1-13).

• Jesus explained financial limits: some must be used to pay taxes (Matthew 22:21); some must be used to give to ministry (Luke 21:1-4); some must be used to give to those in need (Matthew 6:3-4).

• Regarding vocation, some of Jesus' time was used for a regular job. Jesus likely worked a job as a carpenter before his move into full-time ministry (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3).

• Consider also the implications of Jesus' miracles. He occasionally went beyond the normal constraints of creation. But miracles don't negate God's ordinary means.

  • Here are a few thoughts on this: Just because he miraculously provides doesn't mean that we must quit our jobs. Just because he supernaturally heals doesn't mean that we don't need doctors. Just because God calls us to reach the world doesn't mean that we can't sleep or take a day off and rest. Just because God calls people to give (and sometimes even provides money supernaturally) does not mean that Christians must forsake providing for their families, saving, investing, and enjoying some of their money.

Now, consider some other verses in Scripture on these topics:

• Enjoying some of your money (1 Timothy 6:17)

• Providing for your family (1 Timothy 5:8)

• Saving / investing (Proverbs 6:6-8; 13:11; Ecclesiastes 11:2)

• Giving inheritance (Proverbs 13:22)

• Giving to the church cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7)

• Sabbath rest and refreshment (Mark 2:27)

• Pursuing a healthy marriage and family life (many of Paul's letters; see especially Ephesians 5:21–6:4)

• Somewhere between laziness and overwork, Scripture shows us that sufficient sleep is a blessing (Psalm 127:2).

The only way I can fathom for us to adequately apply these teachings from Scripture to our lives is by living within limits. If we discern that the Lord is asking us to break through a limit, we obediently do so by faith.

Why do we regularly go beyond our limits?

Why do churches regularly ask members to go beyond their time limits in service? Why do churches regularly ask members to go beyond their financial limits in giving? And, is there an effect on other areas of life? For example: Is going beyond limits leading someone to sacrifice time with family, time for rest, or time at work? Is it leading people to financial burdens and debt?

(Let me be exceptionally clear: though I myself and others have seen this in numerous churches, I am not saying that all churches ask people to regularly live beyond their limits. There are some wonderful, godly, and faithful churches which teach and shepherd people well. For this I am grateful!)

Is our limitless way of living a symptom of unwillingness to acknowledge that we are not God? Are we trying to live like God?

End Notes:

[1] Peter Scazzero, Emotionally Health Discipleship: Moving from Shallow Christianity to Deep Transformation (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2021), 90.

[2] Ibid., 97-98.