Pastor Mike's Blog

By Pastor Trent

Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 1 Peter 5:2-3

[Adapted from John Piper, www.desiringGod.com]
Today’s text is about how to shepherd a suffering church. Read I Peter 4:12-19 for context.
Then Peter begins chapter 5 with the word "Therefore"—in the light of this suffering in the church and in the light of the judgment of God that is purifying the church before it punishes the world—in the light of that, here's how to shepherd the suffering flock.
In one sense the elder-shepherds are just sheep like every other Christian, with Christ as the Chief Shepherd (verse 4). But by virtue of their calling they have a responsibility that is different than the rest of the sheep. The Chief Shepherd will hold them responsible—he will call them to give an account someday for exercising oversight. The rest of the sheep will not be called to give an account for oversight. Only the elders, the shepherds. Did they see the big picture? Did they act accordingly? Did they "exercise oversight"?
Sometimes we think that seasons of suffering are automatically purifying for the church and its leaders; and in general they are. But Peter makes it plain here that it is not so simple. He was writing into a season of suffering. And instead of assuming that danger and difficulty would automatically cleanse the eldership, he warns that even when men have lost the heartfelt desire for the great work of shepherding the flock of God, and even when they may face danger and difficulty in it, some might hang on because of money and power (vs. 2-3).
O how discerning the church needs to be. Elder-shepherds need to "take heed to ourselves" as well as to all the flock (Acts 2:28)! And search ourselves and test ourselves and see if there be any wicked way in us.
What then can sustain the love expressed in the words: Exercise oversight "with eagerness." That is, want to! Love to! Delight to! Here is real love for the flock—eagerness to shepherd, not motivated by money or power.
What can sustain that kind of love? Peter tells us in verse 4: "And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory."
I am in touch with a good number of pastors. I don't know any today who would say that their job is easy. But the ones I know best are good men. What keeps them going is not the love of money or the love of power. What keeps them going is that when the Chief Shepherd comes he is going to call us to account and say, "Did you feed my sheep? Were you vigilant over the souls of my sheep? Did you seek my lost sheep? Did you guard the deposit of my truth? Did you stand watch against the wolves? Did you love my flock?"
And when the Chief Shepherd comes, with him will be his everlasting reward: the unfading crown of glory. And that will be enough for the elder-shepherd.

Read 1 Peter 4:12-5:11.