This One's for All the Church Leaders Out There

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"Year of the Bible" Q&As and Pastor's Reflection

Here's the question and answer from Wednesday:
The psalmist encourages us to pray for the __________ of Jerusalem? (Ps 122)
Psalm 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you be secure."

And from Thursday:
Who took revenge on the house of Judah and became guilty by doing so? (Ezek 25)
Ezekiel 25:12 12 "This is what the Sovereign LORD says: 'Because Edom took revenge on the house of Judah and became very guilty by doing so"

And from Friday:
How does love cover a multitude of sins? (I Peter 4) (Hint: This doesn’t have a right or wrong answer!)

And here's the question from today:
What country is God going to give to Nebuchadnezzar? What country is he king of?

And here's the reflection of the day:
This one's for all the church elders and other leaders in the church out there. It's the season for church officer nominations, right? And so it seems that 1 Peter 5 was just destined for us to be reading right now.

If you are part of a typical church, nominating committees are currently, or soon will be, on the prowl for new elders, deacons, trustees, and other assorted church officers. And sometimes, if we're honest with ourselves, it just comes down to just finding a warm body to fill a slot.

And that kind of attitude would make Peter roll over in his grave, wherever it may be.

Peter writes as an elder to the "elders among you" (v1). And his advice to all church leaders is this: "Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be" (v2).

That advice, my friends, is music to a pastor's ears. Pastors want church leaders who are WILLING to serve, not just those who feel it is their duty or agree simply because it is their "turn" to serve.

Jesus, the "Chief Shepherd," did not serve because it was his "turn;" he was WILLING and he did it out of love for the world. And that should be our motivation as well--and this applies to pastors just as well as church lay leaders!

We've all done things in the church with . . . shall we say less than perfect motives . . . and it's time to get over that. That's not the example Jesus set for us and it's not the example we should be setting for the next generation of church leaders either.

And may I be so bold as to say that I personally think it actually does HARM to the church to serve with incorrect motives. It would serve the church better if it had fewer leaders who are willing than a plethora of leaders who are there only because it is their "turn" to serve.

I encourage you to think on this passage from 1 Peter 5 as you contemplate how you will serve your congregation in the coming year!!