Jump Start # 3999
Proverbs 22:28 “Do not move the ancient boundary which your fathers have set.”
Our verse today carries a lot of great spiritual application for us. Built upon a statement from the Law, “Cursed is he who moves his neighbor’s boundary mark” (Deut 27:17), God intended for Israel to respect the lines identifying property. Two immediate things we need to appreciate about this statement in Proverbs.
First, the boundary was set by others before us. They are referred to as “ancient boundaries”. They are the property lines established by ‘your fathers.’
Second, unlike today, with modern surveyors, plat books, GPS coordinates, in ancient times large rocks would be set as a corner or edge of a property. One would walk so far and find another set of rocks. These rocks determined the boundary lines.
A dishonest person could move the rocks. A little here and a little there. Move some now and move some later on and by doing that deceptive work, one would gain, or actually steal, land from his neighbor. A dispute would take place. A judge would have to decide the outcome. Without coordinates and maps, the outcome of the judge’s decision could go either way.
So, the Lord declared, DON”T DO THAT. Do not move the ancient boundary. Now, we might wonder why someone would do that. The answer is the same as why would someone today steal a person’s identity. Or, why would someone try to forge a name on a check. Dishonest. Cheats. Not serious about faith. Not caring about the person that they are hurting.
Don’t move the boundary.
From the book of Colossians we find four ancient boundaries. They were not set by our fathers, but rather by God. We do well to remember them and keep them where they belong.
1. Christ authored creation (Col 1:15-17). The Bible, all throughout, from the first page, nearly to the last page, attributes the origin of this world and life to God. But, when this ancient boundary is removed, then life is cheapened. Man becomes a part of the animal kingdom. Value, purpose, responsibility and accountability are defined in selfish terms. Do whatever makes you happy becomes the song of the times. We came from God and one day we are going back to God. Don’t move this rock.
2. Christ centered marriage (Col 3:18-19). It was God who came up with the idea of marriage, not us. God invited us to a marriage. The first people God created were not neighbors, partners, co-workers, but, rather, husband and wife. God started with a marriage. And, when Christ is centered in that marriage, selfless love will prevail. Grace and forgiveness will be as normal as coffee in the morning. Patience, helping each other, and doing all that we can to help the other grow spiritually and walk closer with the Lord. Your greatest spiritual help ought to be the person you married.
But, when that ancient rock is moved, it shifts the marriage. It becomes self-centered. Fighting and jealousy prevail. Happiness is the only thing that holds the marriage together. And, when someone else makes us more happier, off we go chasing that person. Little regard to the emotional and spiritual destruction that follows.
The average length of a marriage, according to the statistics is about twenty years. Divorce is so common and accepted these days that new terms have arisen: the starter marriage. That last about eight years. Usually there are no children. Next comes the parenting marriage. This typically lasts until the kids are teens or are in college. Then comes the finisher marriage. This is the one that a person will stay with until death. All told, it is very, very common for people to have at least three marriages in their life.
In Malachi’s day, the Lord rebuked the nation because they dealt “treacherously with the wife of your youth.” They were moving ancient rocks. Don’t move the rocks!
3. Christ anchored lives (Col 1:9-12). Lives that pleased the Lord. Lives that were thankful. Lives that were increasing in spiritual knowledge. Lives that were joyful. Decisions and choices would be made based upon God. Storms would come and go, yet they would remain steadfast and assured. Hope was sure. Trust in the Lord made all the difference. The political climate, the culture of the day, the newest and greatest wouldn’t move hearts that are anchored in the Lord.
When this rock is moved, lives begin to fall apart. Poor choices are made. Decisions are not thought out. Consequences are not seen. Influence tanks. Fear, worry and doubt take over, like weeds in a garden. Lives become messy. Don’t move the rocks!
4. Christ headed church (Col 1:18-20). Christ is first place in all places. The church is to remain in the lane that God created. The church becomes a haven and refuge for spiritual comfort. Worship is God focused and God centered. Sunday becomes the best day of the week. Following the Biblical pattern, the church honors the Lord in all that it does.
When this rock is moved, the church is more concerned about each other than the Lord. Programs and practices begin to be introduced that are not Biblical, sound nor right. Feelings replace faith. What I want surpasses what the Lord says. The church loses its distinction, its impact and its purpose.
Don’t move the rocks! Keep the boundaries just as the Lord set them.
Roger