Will Shepherd For Glory - 1 Peter 5:2c-4 Series

1 Peter 5:1 Therefore to the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ's sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Shepherd God's flock that is under your care, overseeing--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

The Shepherd’s Guidelines

Not External Pressure, but Internal Passion

We have been studying verse by verse through the book of 1 Peter, and the past few weeks we have been taking a careful look at this opening section of chapter 5 where Peter instructs elders about shepherding the flock. First Peter gives us a very solemn command to shepherd the flock of God. Then he gives us three guidelines – warning us of pitfalls and then giving us the solution for each one. And then finally in verse 4 he gives us the incentive we need to be able to accomplish this work. We looked at the first of the three guidelines last time – not because you must, but because you are willing (v.2). The motivation for this work must come from inner passion, not external pressure. The second guideline has to do with money.

Not Greedy but Eager

Not Greedy

2 not greedy for money, but eager to serve

The pastor must not be driven by greed. That is not to say he cannot take a salary. You may be surprised to know that in the New Testament church elders were paid a salary.

1 Timothy 5:17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those who labor at preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, "Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages."

It is most definitely appropriate to pay elders a salary. And if they do their work well and labor hard, pay them more. There are no examples in the Bible of a lay elder. It is possible they existed, but the norm is for elders to be paid. So there is nothing wrong with taking a salary. I am thrilled to get a salary, because that enables me to spend my full time on this work rather than having to spend 40 hours a week doing something else.

So a salary is appropriate, however, there is a danger. Any time you have a position of influence, there is the potential for corruption - using that influence in a way that results in you getting money or possessions or perks. The problem of spiritual leaders using their influence to get rich has been an issue for thousands of years. The bad pastors in Ezekiel 34, instead of feeding the sheep, used the sheep to feed themselves.

Isaiah 56:11 They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough. ...each seeks his own gain.

Jeremiah 6:13 all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike

One reason the Pharisees rejected Jesus’ teaching was because they loved money (Lk.16:14).

2 Peter 2:1 ...there will be false teachers among you. ...3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up.

14 ... they are experts in greed ...15 They have wandered off to follow the way of Balaam ... who loved the wages of wickedness.

The false teachers in Ephesus thought of godliness as a means to financial gain (1 Tim.6:5). The circumcision group in Titus 1:11 were ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach-and that for the sake of dishonest gain. Loving money is a real problem for spiritual leaders, and so Paul told Timothy, “When you select an elder, he must not be a lover of money” (1 Tim.3:3).

Titus 1:7 an overseer ... must be blameless... not pursuing dishonest gain.

Years ago, when I was first starting out as a pastor, an older pastor took me to lunch one day in order to give me some guidance. But the only advice he ended up giving me had to do with how I could use the ministry to get money. He said, “The best advice I can give you is this: Make sure whenever you go to a church that you require in your contract that you get a $20,0000 raise for every hundred new people that join the church.”

Most pastors are not quite that crass about their greed, but it is always a temptation for a staff pastor to start thinking about his salary, benefits, vacation time, days off, bonuses. And then you start giving special treatment to the big givers. And more and more your heart attaches to the world’s treasures, until finally you end up like Demas, who abandoned Paul because he loved this world. Woe to the pastor who uses the sheep for his own selfish ends.