Lord Make Me A Sheep Dog

The book of Job, which many scholars agree, is the oldest book in the Bible, makes mention of the sheep dog in chapter thirty. So as far back as shepherds and sheep go in history so do sheep dogs. These dogs tirelessly give their time, energy and life to their calling. When we look at the stories of Men of God who were shepherds to Gods flock, we can’t help but see some sheep dogs. When reading about that great shepherd Moses, who led the flock of Israel out of Egypt, one finds Caleb and Joshua by his side. An interesting point is that Caleb’s name means “dog”. When we read about David and his mighty men or Elijah and Elisha, we see sheepdogs. For how great would the work of Paul been if it were not but for Luke, Timothy and Titus? Why even our Lord Jesus had twelve disciples to help His earthly ministry. You see, we all cannot be the shepherd or be in the forefront but we all can be sheepdogs. I’m talking about the servants who are in the shadows and are behind the scenes working to keep the flock together and headed in the direction of the shepherd. All of the Sunday school teachers, preachers, cleaners, bus workers, deacons, ushers, nursery workers, singers, choir leaders, sound men, and many others who give themselves wholeheartedly to the church and to the pastor without needing a thank you or even an “attaboy”. Sometimes the devil can make you question your purpose or the value of your ministry but I’m here to tell you that your service, though maybe unnoticed, is never unneeded! If we would realize the value of the sheepdog, we would understand the need for our churches to have folks with the heart of the sheepdog. There is no good flock without a good shepherd and no good shepherd without a good sheepdog. Lord make me a Sheepdog!

1. THE SERVICE OF THE SHEEPDOG (ACTS 20:28“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

The main job of the sheepdog is to take stress off of the sheep and in turn take stress off of the shepherd. No matter what challenges or obstacles he faces his primary objective is to serve the needs of the flock and the shepherd. How much better would our churches be if our attitude or mindset was to always help the church and in turn help the Pastor? I have preached in churches where you could feel the attitude of the members was to tear down one another and criticize the Pastor. That is never the attitude of the sheepdog for his duty and mindset is to lift up the flock and the shepherd.

A Pastor friend told me that more than seventy-five percent of Pastors battle depression at some point in their ministry. Many Pastors feel alone and burnt-out. They study to preach three to four times a week without a break. They visit the sick, dying and the lost. They perform marriages and funerals. They counsel the young, the old, and the couples. All while having a family of their own and, in some cases, working a second job. Because of the burdens that they bear many Pastors have a strained relationship with their wife and their children. They are constantly pulled in every direction yet are expected to find the time to pray, read their Bible and prepare sermons. A pastor or shepherd’s endless work is why the sheepdog’s service is so important. He must be a servant to the shepherd. A willing tool, that in the hand of a wise shepherd, can be used to make life easier for him and the flock. A sheep dog is always eager to help the shepherd in even the most menial tasks. Don’t complain the next time your pastor asks you to do something you feel is unimportant but know that you are helping the shepherd! The sheepdog serves as worker and friend to the shepherd. The shepherd trusts and depends on his sheepdog to be a faithful companion. Loyalty in churches today can be as hard to find as a white cat in a snowstorm. A loyal sheepdog never undermines the work of the shepherd but always helps the work. I wouldn’t give you a wooden nickel for a church member that will run down his Pastor and his church. If he’s willing to betray the trust of a shepherd and a flock then he’s willing to betray a lot more than that!