A Daily Walk

John Randall: Friend, I don't know what the Lord has placed in your care. Some of you I know, you are fathers and mothers. You have a stewardship of children that you shepherd. Dads, husbands, you're the shepherd of your home. Shepherd well. Children, grandchildren, etc. Others of you, God has placed you in different positions where you are ministering and serving people. Do it faithfully for the glory of God.

Guest (Male): It reflects poorly on the church as a whole when a pastor or leader is in it for all the wrong reasons. Whether it's a thirst for money or power, it can be destructive in more ways than one. And of course, people like that exist in our day.

First Peter chapter 5 is before us today. It is a wonderful passage that outlines the purpose of the pastor. It'll help them steer clear of the wrong attitude and action and be a God-honoring leader instead.

Today on A Daily Walk, we'll take some time to unpack this helpful message. And while we realize not all of you are called to pastoral ministry, there is application to be found here for other shepherding roles like parenting. Here's Pastor John Randall.

John Randall: When the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians about being an overseer and how he would want them to consider him, First Corinthians chapter 4, verse 1, this is what he said: "Let a man so consider us as servants of Christ." That's what we are, servants. And the word that he uses for servant is an interesting word. It's actually the Greek word where we get the English word under-rower.

Under-rower. And it's a picture of these large vessels that would go across the Mediterranean. And to get from one place to the other, the way in which they were propelled is there were people underneath in the lower decks rowing the ship. They were unseen. They were sweating. They were down below and they had one mission: to get the passengers to where they needed to be.

Paul said, "If you're going to observe us, if you want to think about us, that's how we see ourselves. We're just servants rowing to the cadence of the King to get people to their final destination. We are here to serve." So we are to serve as overseers. That is the first thing that must be understood. We're here to serve people.

But the second thing he says is we are to serve not by compulsion. Listen to this: serve willingly. Serve willingly. When it comes to serving the Lord in any capacity, it should never be coerced. It should never be forced. You don't need a list of incentives. "Listen, if you serve, here's what we're going to do for you. Let me tell you, we've got a plan, a service package for servants. First of all, donuts. Second of all, coffee. Third of all, t-shirts." Is that all? Is that all I get? Is that it? We could maybe add something. This shouldn't be forced. This shouldn't be by compulsion, twisting people's arms to serve God.

This should be a desire in the heart of the people. Willingly, gladly. In fact, I will say, and I think it's biblically accurate, if you can't serve the Lord willingly and joyfully, then stop doing what you're doing. Or repent and ask God to change your attitude. I've had to ask God to change my attitude many times. Certain things that maybe I don't want to do, and yet I know God wants me to do it. And I say, "God, help change my attitude." And he's good like that; he'll do it.

The motivation for serving the Lord should be first and foremost a love for God, and then secondly, a love for God's people. This is the greatest motive. If you don't love sheep, then don't serve in that capacity. I have heard people say, "I love the ministry, just the people... the people are tough. That's the part I don't like." What are you doing? It is the people, man!

But we also are to serve not only willingly, but notice this: Peter's exhorting them to serve honestly. Serve honestly. It says, "not for dishonest gain, but eagerly." And the word for dishonest gain can imply a few things. For one, you're not in the ministry for money.

My wife and I didn't feel called to the ministry because we thought, "This is a very lucrative way to serve. I think we're going to make a lot of money doing this." Nobody... if you get into it for that reason, you're probably a prosperity teacher, word of faith person, and you're asking people for jets. "We need two because one might break down, and so we need another one." These people are ridiculous. False prophets, man! And you can always tell because it's a matter of time. You're three minutes into their talk and it's like, "I feel the Lord telling me..." No, he's not telling you that; your flesh is telling you that. So you don't get into it for the money. That's false motivation.

Now granted, pastors who serve faithfully should be compensated for the work that they do. I think that's important, and I say that because the Bible says that. In First Timothy chapter 5, verses 17 and 18, it says, "Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in doctrine. For the Scripture says, 'You shall not muzzle the ox while it treads out the grain,' and 'the laborer is worthy of his wages.'"

So if they're doing a good job, if they're laboring, then they should be provided for so they can continue to minister. And I think that's important. But that's not the main motivation. That's not the goal. However, this dishonest gain may also be in reference to the desire for popularity or notoriety. You don't get into the ministry or get called into the ministry because you want to be something or to be identified by people.

Ultimately, our job is to point people to Jesus. People may look at the pastors, but the pastor's job is to point people to the Great Shepherd, the Good Shepherd of the sheep, which is Jesus. We're just under-shepherds. Instead of dishonest gain, false motivation, there should be, as Peter says here, an eagerness. And that word speaks of a temperance. It's something that's done freely. Not for any false motivation. Not what you can get from people, but what you can impart and give to people. That is what it means to be a shepherd.

In the book of Ezekiel, there was a time when Ezekiel gave a strong word of rebuke to what the Bible calls worthless shepherds. What does a worthless shepherd look like? Well, Ezekiel tells us. Ezekiel chapter 34, verses 1 and 2: "And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 'Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, and say to them, "Thus says the Lord God to the shepherds: Woe to the shepherds of Israel... who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?"'" The answer to that question is yes, they should feed the flocks.

I want to just give you a little bit of insight as I'm before you today, just because it's in the context, it's what we're talking about, pastors, and I am one by the grace of God. Sometimes people assume that what a pastor does... just giving you a little bit of behind the curtain... that what a pastor does is great because you basically work one day a week and then it's cool, you're done. You just go and golf the rest of the week.

First of all, I don't golf. Но secondly, no, it's not just one day a week. And I want to say to you, when you are with pastors or you sit with pastors or you listen to these guys, or you're listening here and this is your home church, I want you to know that what we're talking about today, these types of messages, sermons, they don't just magically appear. I don't go to AI and download messages. I don't go to sermon.com... and apparently they're out there... and I just download my notes and come in here and just read to you what I downloaded from some whatever.

No, no, no, no, no. You've got to labor, man. You've got to dig. You've got to study. You've got to prepare. And if you're well-fed, then that means the shepherd is digging. It takes work. So I just want you to know that. Not so you say, "Oh, we know that." I just want you to be aware of it. It's not just one day a week.

A fireman came to my house one time and said, "Must be so great you just get to work one day a week." I said, "Now hold on, sir. I think you... how many days off do you get? You get like a week off and then you work a week." We weren't comparing, but I'm just saying to him, he actually said to me, "Man, must be nice to have the dream job." Dream job! Dream on, man! What are you talking about? Oh, I put out fires; they're just much different than yours.

The point being, when it comes to serving God's people, it should be honest, it should be willingly. We're serving as overseers. And also, and I believe this is really the most important, serve lovingly. That's critical. It says here in verse 3, "not as being lords over those entrusted to you." The word for the Amplified version actually says, "not domineering as arrogant or overbearing." It's not tyrant leadership that we're looking for here or that we're wanting to portray.

It is servant leadership. Not using a position of leadership, and this doesn't just apply to the pastor, but anybody here who has a position of leadership in any capacity. You don't use that as an opportunity to manipulate people to get what you want from them or twist this and twist to somehow motivate them to do that. That's not the proper way to lead.

Jesus had to remind his disciples of this on more than one occasion because they were constantly battling for greatness. Can you imagine walking with Jesus and you're battling greatness out, who's going to be greatest? Of course, Jesus, you're great, but besides Jesus, between us, who's the second greatest in the kingdom? And Jesus said to them in Matthew chapter 20 and verse 25, Jesus called them to himself after they were having this debate. He said, "You know that the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority, they're domineering over them."

But Jesus said, "It shall not be so among you. But whoever desires to become great among you, then let him be your servant." Jesus was saying to his disciples very clearly, the way up is down. Take the place of a servant. You're not doing it for dishonest gain. You love, and therefore you give.

There is an example of somebody who was a poor shepherd and by poor I mean didn't do a good job. He would be one who was domineering. He wasn't serving lovingly. His name is forever recorded in Third John. His name was Diotrephes. Oh, don't name your child Diotrephes. And here's what it says in Third John chapter 1, verse 9. John said, "I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, doesn't receive us."

There's a problem with this shepherd. What's the problem? It's about him. He loves to have the preeminence. Don't be like that. That's not loving. When it comes to being loving, you are willing to sacrifice. That was the example of the Great Shepherd. Jesus sacrificed for the sheep. Gave of himself. He was not a hireling, and there is a difference between being a hireling and being a true shepherd.

It's interesting that shepherds also, he says here, serve faithfully. Faithfully. He says here, "being," notice it, "being examples to the flock." True shepherds, elders, overseers, pastors are to be models for the sheep to follow. They were not to drive God's people, but they were to lead God's people by example.

Interesting word that's used here in the Greek. It literally refers to a visible mark or impression that is made by a stroke from an instrument or object. And what is left after the stroke, after the implement of the object, is a print. It's a figure. It's like if they had a ring and they put it into a wax seal and you make the imprint, the impression, and what's left is the actual imprint from what was placed there.

And to the Apostle Paul, we were to have the example, the imprint of Christ upon us and thus we were to be an example. Paul said this, Peter said this. In fact, Paul took it so seriously, his example, he said in First Corinthians chapter 11, verse 1, "Imitate me, as I imitate Christ." It's a way of saying, follow my example as I'm following the example of Jesus. Do what I'm doing because I'm doing what he's doing.

Again, Paul wrote to the Philippians concerning this, and he said in Philippians chapter 3, verse 17, "Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk as you have us as a pattern." Also to the Philippians, again he said it a third time, Philippians chapter 4, verse 9, here's what he said... I love this one... he said, "The things which you have learned, received, heard, but notice this, and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you." Not just what I said to you, not just what I taught you from here, but what you saw, what you observed in my life. What Paul taught was embodied in his own life. He was an example to the sheep.

When Paul wrote to young Timothy, who was being withstood by some in the congregation because of his age, Paul said to him in First Timothy chapter 4, verse 12, "Let no one despise your youth, but be an example in word, in conduct, love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity." Timothy, this is how you win them over. You just live your life in front of them and they will observe that it's real in your life and they will follow that example.

It's hard to tell somebody... if you're a parent, you know this to be true... "Do what I say, not what I do." Oh man, kids are so quick to pick up. "That's hypocrisy." They might not use the word hypocrisy, but they know it's not real. You tell them to do it, but you don't do it. That's inconsistent. "I'm in charge, do it anyway." No, you have to be an example of that.

When Paul wrote to Titus in chapter 2, verse 7, another pastoral epistle, this is what he said to Titus: "You yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and the seriousness of your teaching." We serve as examples faithfully. Faithfully.

And we have to ask ourselves, what is my example like? Am I an example of Christ? And the moments when I'm not being a good example of Jesus, I need to stop and I need to say, "Lord, forgive me. Help me to be a good example of you to my children, to my husband, to my wife, to our kids, to our grandkids, to the church. Lord, help me to be an example of you so that people could see Jesus." Peter exhorts them.

The final thing that we can take from this text this morning, and this is good news, that there is a reward for the shepherd. The reward of the shepherd. Look at verse 4: "And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away." Peter provided a powerful incentive for pastors when he reminded them, notice this, when the Chief Shepherd appears. It doesn't say if he appears, but when he does. Meaning that he is coming. The Chief Shepherd is coming again and the under-shepherds will give an account to the Chief Shepherd to whom the flock ultimately belongs.

It's a serious thought. But when he comes, if you've been a faithful shepherd, you will receive a crown. Now in the New Testament, when it refers to a crown, often it refers to the temporary crown of the Greek athletic games where they would receive some festal garland they would put on their head. Maybe you've seen pictures of it before, statues that have this garland over their head, this award that they received for competing and winning and so forth. It's a perishable crown. But Peter says the crown that shepherds will receive if they are faithful, the reward that they'll get is something that is unfading. It doesn't fade. It lasts forever. It's eternal.

So be faithful. Paul picks up on this, First Corinthians chapter 9 and verse 25. He said, "Everyone who competes for the prize is temperate," that is self-controlled in all things. And why? He said, "They do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown." We want a reward, we want a crown, but we don't want one that's just going to wither and fade and be thrown in the trash can. We're laboring for something that is eternal that lasts forever and it will never fade away. It's imperishable. The reward.

When Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, I love this, he said in First Thessalonians 2:19 concerning this church that he loved, "What is our hope? What is our joy or our crown? What's my crown of rejoicing?" Here's what my crown is, Paul said: "Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?" Paul looked at the thought of his people that he loved, that he served, being in the presence of the Lord and receiving their rewards. And he says, "Let me tell you something, that's my crown of rejoicing right there, seeing you in the presence of the Lord. You made it. We got you there. We rowed. We're here. That's my crown."

In Second Timothy, right before he was to be martyred, Paul wrote his last letter and he said to Timothy in chapter 4, verse 8, "Finally, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day. And not to me only, but also to all who have loved his appearing." A crown to every person who's been faithful with what they've been entrusted with by the Lord.

And then finally in James, James said in James chapter 1, verse 12, "Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him." Crown of righteousness, crown of life, crown of rejoicing, shepherd's crown, all of these crowns that are mentioned in Scripture have to do with the rewards that we will receive for living a life faithful to the Lord. Those who love him, those who love his appearing, those who serve him faithfully, there is a reward.

And why is this important? I've also thought many times how fascinating it is that the Lord saves us, he calls us into something to serve him in some capacity, and then he empowers us, he equips us to serve him, and then he also rewards us for what he called and equipped us to do. He rewards us for what he gave us the ability to do. He gives us a crown.

And the Bible tells us in Revelation chapter 4 that when we are around the throne of God, listen to what it says. It says, "Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and they worship him who lives forever and ever." And notice what they do: "They cast their crowns down before the throne, saying, 'You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they exist and were created.'"

The opportunity to have a crown for the blessing and the purpose of in times of worship around the throne be able to throw it down at his feet and say, "You are worthy." Think of it: he called us, he equipped us, then he rewards us. What do I have where I could repay the Lord for what he has done for me? There is nothing that I have that could ever repay the Lord for what he has saved me from and what he has saved me to.

All that we have is a life to live for the glory and honor of God. And so when we are awarded and given a crown, friend, don't you want something to just throw down at his feet and say, "This was for you"? And it was all because of you. This is for you and you are worthy. That should be our desire. That should be our goal. And so Peter gives an exhortation to the shepherds to minister faithfully to the flock. And if they do, they would be rewarded.

Friend, I don't know what the Lord has placed in your care. Some of you I know, you are fathers and mothers. You have a stewardship of children that you shepherd. Dads, husbands, you're the shepherd of your home. Shepherd well. Children, grandchildren, etc. Others of you, God has placed you in different positions where you are ministering and serving people. Do it faithfully for the glory of God.

Guest (Male): This is A Daily Walk with Pastor John Randall. We're going through the Bible right now. You can listen to our recent programs on our website at adailywalk.org or at oneplace.com. Look for us wherever you get your podcasts too. And I should also mention our free mobile app. Do a search for Calvary South OC.

Jesus chose 12 ordinary men to be his disciples: fishermen, tax collectors, political zealots. And the Master shaped these disciples for greatness. He wants to do the same with you and me. In his book, *12 Ordinary Men*, John MacArthur draws helpful principles from Christ's careful hands-on training of the original disciples, applying it to today's modern disciple. That's you and me.

You can get this special book today at adailywalk.org for the cost of $12. We can also take your request if you call us at 877-242-0828. And thank you for your prayerful and financial support of A Daily Walk. It really is having an impact. With your help, we're able to reach people all across the country with the truths of Christ at a time when they really need to hear it.

If you'd like to donate to the ministry, please go to adailywalk.org or call 877-242-0828. And we're very grateful to the Lord when we hear back from our listeners. Write to Pastor John today by email at adailywalk@gmail.com. He loves to read listener letters and emails. Let him know what's going on in your life and how we can pray for you at adailywalk@gmail.com.

Maybe you're one of our new listeners. Let us know what you think about A Daily Walk when you write to us at adailywalk@gmail.com. Well, that'll do it for this edition of A Daily Walk with Pastor John Randall. May God richly bless you and strengthen you in your daily walk. Join us next time as we continue our journey through the Bible.