Shepherding the Flock

1 Peter 5:1-4
V.1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:
Peter turns and addresses the leaders of the church at this time, and humbly does by refer to himself as a fellow elder. A good leader will not look down upon those he is given to lead, but remind them that they are in this together. I have heard a few pastors say that theirs would be a great job if not for the people, but if not for the sheep there would be no need of a Shepard. We must all remember that we are fellow servants in the Lord, gifted by God to do the work that He has set aside for us to do. We call each other brother and sister not only to remember that we are part of the family of God, but to remember that we are in this thing called life together. We love, laugh, cry, and rejoice together, sharing each aspect of life with each other. When we lift up our concerns before the congregation we are calling upon the family to share in our hurt and to pray with us. When we lift up our praise to the family of God we are allowing them to rejoice with us, and share in the glory of God. Peter is telling this church and its leaders that he is suffering with them, he is rejoicing with them, and he is look forward to the return of Christ with them.
As partakers in glory, we have a right to it through the blood of Christ, not as it is due us, but as in a will, an inheritance. We have an anticipation of it by the power of the Holy Ghost; and we have a promise of it from our Lord and Master. Many times in the Old Testament men of God cried out to God; “How long, O God!” how often do we cry out to God for the promise of God to be revealed, for Christ to split the sky and usher in His kingdom, for Jesus to return for His bride as He promised. Come even now Lord Jesus!
V. 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
Here the pastor’s job is described and the way it should be administered. Shepherd the flock, by preaching to them the Word of God, and leading them by such direction and discipline that is found in the Word of God. Both pastors and leaders in the church are to care for what has been appointed to them either by God or by man.
Leaders are to practice self-denial, holiness, and all other Christian duties which they preach or represent with their offices. For not only will God hold us accountable for the words we speak, but God will as well.
The duties described above must be preformed not out of compulsion, nor since of civil duty, but from a willing mind that takes pleasure in the work. This work is not to be done for dishonest gain. This does not always mean for gain of wealth, but also power, and to push error over the word of God. Paul warns Timothy of such leaders in 1 Timothy 6:3-5; If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. As men and women of God we are to not engage these leaders in debate, but approach them with love to bring them their error, being not judgmental, for God will judge them.
V. 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;
In Ezekiel 34:1-5 God gives instruction to the prophet of what to say to those entrusted to the care of the people of Israel and the word of God. V. 1And the word came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God to the shepherds; “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock? 3 “You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. 4 “The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them. 5 “So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beast of the field when they were scattered.
These leaders became self centered and absorbed in their own agenda, that they forgot why they were shepherds. Not to be too hard on the leaders of Israel, this is a trap that has befallen many great leaders who start out with a pure heart for God and for one reason or another drift from the path that God has called them to. It is a trap that has tempted many of us for various reasons, perhaps it is simple pride that cause those called of God to stray from that calling and from the will of God for them. The reason I began this ministry was out of a need that I had to find more time to study the word of God. I realized that there were others out there who did not have the time to study as well, so I felt led to share my studies with others in hope that it would encourage them to dig deeper into the word of God. It has been tempting to say look at what I am doing in order to draw attention to myself. That is not the focus of this ministry but to draw focus on the word of God and the riches found within.
If the flock is not cared for in the manner that God explains above, they will scatter to the winds of false doctrine and be led away from the true word of God. Remembering that God has entrusted leaders to rightly administer the word of God, and leads us to where we can be fed, we need to be faithful to the will of God for our lives. What God has begun in us He will bring about to completion when we remain focused on the ministry He has given to us. Whether that be preaching, teaching, or offering a glass of water to a friend, do it with the same joy to which you began. By this we are becoming living examples to those we minister to. For if your walk does not match your talk, how can you expect to lead others?
V. 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
Leaders are called by God empowered by the Holy Spirit to care for the flocks of the Master. It is a daunting task, to which we are to approach with humility and a pure heart for the flock. It is always to be our prayer for God to teach us to love His people. When we have used body, soul, spirit, time and talent to keep the flock, and work as God gives an increase to these flocks, we shall receive a crown of glory. We shall enjoy an eternal nearness and intimacy with God. Those faithful to the call of God upon their lives shall shine not as stars in the sky but as sons in the kingdom of the Father! We as Christians carry the seeds of the gospel and sow it according to the will of the Father. It is God who nourish those seeds and see His crop to a glorious harvest, where we shall rejoice, in God’s kingdom in glory which shall never become tarnished with time. What a wonderful thought that the same joy we experience our first day with the Lord in heaven shall be renewed each and every day for eternity. Oh that would be true of us today.