August 06, 2024
What is a spiritual leader in a church? Is it just a nice job? A good career? Something to do if you can’t really do anything else? Some people of whom not much is required who casually help others? How should we view pastors and spiritual leaders and how should they view themselves? But, more importantly, how does GOD view them?
Hebrews 13:7, 17-18 gives us insight.
Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.
SPIRITUAL LEADERS MUST BE IMITATABLE
The pastor is human and will fail, but he must be above reproach and have a life worth imitating. Others are following and his character is his highest asset in leadership. This is why when Paul is reminding us of the qualifications of elders/pastors/overseers in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, he doesn’t list SKILLS but 22 CHARACTER TRAITS and says that pastors “must be” these things. They are not an option, for the church will rise no higher in godliness than her pastors.
SPIRITUAL LEADERS MUST KEEP WATCH OVER SOULS
Pastors are responsible, like a literal shepherd with his flock to “keep watch” over the souls of those under their care. A pastor must “know well the condition of his flock and pay attention to his herds” (Proverbs 27:23). And he is to oversee them constantly and tend to their life and growth. This is a strong word that means to “stay alert, pass sleepless nights, stay watchful without falling asleep.” Spiritual shepherds are not watching over a flock for their own financial gain, but over the “souls” (the mind, emotions, wills and inner lives) of those entrusted to their care.
Paul reminded the Ephesian Elders of their sacred role and why it was so important.
“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.” (Acts 20:28-31)
AS THOSE WHO WILL GIVE AN ACCOUNT
In New Testament days, a shepherd could not and would not lose a sheep. He knew he must give an account of how well he was taking care his flock. Our account for the souls under our care is unto God, so we must be willing to get up early and stay up late—all night if need be—to watch over them. These are not OUR sheep, they are God’s, and we are stewards of these lives before God. We must willingly pay the highest price to fulfill our task fully and faithfully.
JOYFULLY!
We are to do our task “with joy and not with grief.” Pastoring is tough work because pastors are dealing with a wide range of people with all kinds of needs in all stages of spiritual development. Sometimes, it's frustrating, and sometimes incredibly rewarding and wonderful, but it is almost always hard work (if done right.)
A pastor must stay at his task joyfully, realizing it is the highest honor to care for God’s sheep. He should resist the griping and complaining that some do and that he will, at times, be tempted to do, remembering the sobriety and honor of his work. It is a noble task to pastor God’s own.
It is no light task to become a pastor. It is a high privilege and calling (see Ephesians 4:11). Pastors are men gifted by God and given to the church for the teaching and care of His very own flock, and they must approach their task with high regard and a holy life worth imitating. Only God can give pastors the grace to lead faithfully, but He can and has now for thousands of years. And those who do their job faithfully will one day be rewarded by the Great Shepherd and Guardian of our souls.
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