… watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be…
Summary: We look at what it means to be a shepherd and explore how attitude affects what we do.
How do shepherds get to be shepherds? Do they go to shepherd school? Not everyone is qualified to be a watcher. To “watch over” something requires both patience and a clear vision of what you are doing.
Shepherds guide their flock. They know when it is time to take them out to pasture, and when it is time to bring them home. They know where the good places to graze are and they know the places to avoid. Shepherds have to know a lot.
Think of all the things a shepherd has to watch for. Little sheep that wander off. Big sheep that get into trouble. Sheep that are fighting each other. Sheep stuck in the briars, or sheep stuck in the mud. Sheep eating something they shouldn’t, and of course, shepherds must watch out for critters that want to eat sheep.
While all that is going on, the shepherd has to think about making sure the sheep get enough water. Where will the sheep spend the night? Have they had their shots? Do they need to be sheared?
Shepherding people is not all that different. The shepherd has to keep the flock together and protect them from the enemy prowling in the shadows. That alone is a big job. It requires diligence, watchfulness, and patience. More than that, it requires courage. The courage to act when there is danger.
Why does a shepherd do all this? Is it because he is getting paid or because he loves his master, the owner of the sheep? Luke 19:11-27 relates a story about a man who entrusted his servants with his money while he was gone. The servants were, in a sense, responsible for shepherding what belonged to their master. Two were faithful, one was not. The difference was simply attitude.
Peter wants God’s shepherds to do their work with the right motive. He wants them to shepherd with a willing heart.
Application: Do you do what God has given you to do with a willing heart? Checking our attitude can make a world of difference in how we do what we do.
Food for Thought: How is willingness to be diligent in our responsibilities an expression of love?
A willingness to be diligent shows love for God because we are ultimately working for Him. He is our ultimate boss. It shows love for others because we are diligently seeking God’s intended good for each person we serve. We are looking at people the same way as the Chief Shepherd. Colossians 3: 23 – 24; 1 Corinthians 10: 31.
Rich,
Thanks for your comment today. The kind of love you are talking about is agapē. The selfless, giving love.
Thank you Rich, you alway get to the point in a few words. I’ll take the long way around.
How is willingness to be diligent in our responsibilities an expression of love?
Years ago I came across a book titled “ Love God and do as you please”. I knew this had to be a great book so I bought it and spent many hours enjoying the authors thoughts.
The title came from a quote attributed to St. Augustine, who was quoted as saying, Love God and do whatever you please: for the soul trained in love to God will do nothing to offend the One who is Beloved. He was referring to 1 John 4:8, The one who does not love has not become acquainted with God for God is love.
St Augustine explains this verse as follows.
Once for all, then, a short precept is given thee: Love, and do what thou wilt:
whether thou hold thy peace, through love hold thy peace;
whether thou cry out, through love cry out;
whether thou correct, through love correct;
whether thou spare, through love do thou spare:
let the root of love be within, of this root can nothing spring but what is good.
Biblical love is selfless, unconditional, and does not exist apart from God. Can only be experienced by a person who has experienced God’s own love firsthand through His son Jesus Christ. We are to take our eyes off ourselves and care for others. Christian maturity demands we Philippians 2:3-4, Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others”
This Love of God can only be expressed through His faithful servants who are WILLING to DILIGENTLY “get out of the way” and allow Gods Love to flow through them in all they do. This is what will bring more satisfaction and pleasure than anything of this world as we walk in God.
Thank you, Ron!
I, for one, enjoy your “long way around.” Well said! I like the concept that doing whatever you please is good if it is done in love. That relates well to the conundrum presented in Genesis 3 where Adam and Eve were suddenly capable of doing evil. Before they were acting in love. Afterwards they were acting in self interest.
Great example Brother!
We are so blessed, there is no law against our enjoying God working through us to help others. Love It !!!
A willingness to be diligent shows there is a matter of importance to us.
Great point Rob!
Ron, I appreciate your long way around. I also appreciate your encouragement. And I am thankful that you are home and doing well.
👍🏻