Shepherd

Being a pastor is not an easy job. With that understatement out of the way, let’s look at some of the reasons they might be worried.

It is hard to imagine the annual performance reviews. Ezekiel was given a description:

Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them. For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. (Ezekiel 34:10-11 KJV)

God does find fault with his shepherds when they fail Him:

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. (Matthew 7:15 KJV)

Matthew 18:6, Mark 9:42 and Luke 17:2 all discuss millstones and how to get them tied to you simply by misleading people.

But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. (Matthew 18:6 KJV)

Instead, a pastor’s job is to bring the flock to the Good Shepherd:

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. (John 10:11-12 KJV)

The focus is not on the congregation, but on Christ. Who tells us again that He is the Good Shepherd:

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. (John 10:11-12 KJV)

So, why in the world would a man accept the responsibility of shepherding a flock here? There is great reward for those who do so to glorify our Lord:

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. (1 Peter 5:2-4 KJV)

The Crown of Life is promised to those of us who love Him (James 1:12); the Crown of Righteousness to those of us who love His appearing (II Timothy 4:8.) But the Crown of Glory is only for those who feed God’s flock. What a reward!!!