November 15, 2010, 1 Peter 5

Key Verse:

“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. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away."

(1Peter 5:2-4)

Central Truth:

The biblical image of a leader throughout the scriptures is not of a cowboy who drives and pushes their herds from behind, but of a shepherd who leads and shows others the way.

Cowboy Herding Cattle, or a Shepherd Herding a Flock?
Back in my college days, this sorority girl became a “cowgirl for a day” and attempted to learn how to herd cattle. I was given a frisky horse to ride; spurs adorned my new shiny boots; and a whip was placed in my hand. My only instructions were to stay behind the cattle, push the cattle and let them know that you are boss. After a very long day, I was never able to master the whole herding thing.

The one lesson I did learn that day actually came from one of the farmhands. At one point, this college chick was beyond frustrated and ready to thrown in my spurs and whip. Mr. Cowboy came trotting up with a smirk on his face and said, “You think this is hard. You should try herding sheep.”

Sheep herding is done by shepherds. A Shepherd is someone who leads his flock on foot, wears sandals and carries a hook. The word “Shepherd” is found sixty times in the Bible and refers to a person who guides and protects. Over and over again, the Bible describes how God leads and cares for us, and how we are to lead and care for others in God’s flock. In Psalm 23, God the Father is portrayed as a shepherd. In Luke 15:1-7, Jesus compares himself to a shepherd who goes after lost sheep. In John 21:15-17 Jesus tells Peter, “Feed my lambs,” and “Take care of my sheep.” God’s leaders are called shepherds in the New Testament as well as the Old: “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood” (Acts 20:28).

In the biblical days, being likened to a shepherd was very heavy stuff. The shepherds in Jesus’ era carried a lot of responsibility. Their lives were hard and dangerous. They were on call to protect their flock from predators 24 hours a day. Sheep are prone to wander; without a shepherd’s constant vigilance, a flock would simply disappear. The biblical image of a leader throughout the scriptures is not of a cowboy who drives and pushes their herds from behind, but of a shepherd who leads and shows others the way.

So, are you a cowboy herding cattle, or a shepherd herding a flock?

1 Peter 5:2-4 tells us that we are to care for the flock that God has entrusted to us. This would include your family, children, a Sunday school class, or small group you are leading, or maybe God is calling you to a higher position in your church or even your workplace. As a shepherd, we are to realize that we are caring for God’s flock, not our own; we are to lead out of eagerness to serve, not out of obligation; we should be concerned with what we can give, not for what we can get in return; and most importantly, we should lead by example, not force.

Sometimes it is easier to be a “cowboy for a day,” but, as Christian leaders, we are called to jump off our high horse and throw in the spurs and whip. We are to lead, guide and protect our flock . . . “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”