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What if moms and dads were honest when they advertised for a babysitter? Here’s what it would sound like, at least for one mom: “I have six kids ages 10 and under. The youngest ones are extraordinarily loud and have a tendency to deal with life’s obstacles by screaming at a level that can only be [compared] to a tornado siren. . . . Requirements: if you’re breathing, that’ll do.”[i]

Jesus isn’t like that. When He looks for men to shepherd His sheep in His absence, not just anyone will do. He cares not only what we do, but why and how we do it.

In 1 Peter 5:2-3 we see the requirements for elders. Three times in verse 2-3, Peter says, “not this, . . . but that.” He’s showing us three heart requirements for an elder as he shepherds the flock.

Delight, Not Duty.

Jesus requires His under-shepherds to be motivated by delight, not mere duty. Look again at verse 2, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you. If Jesus were to ask you, aspiring elder, “why do you want to be an elder,” what would you say? Here’s one wrong answer: “Somebody’s got to do it!” That’s not enough. The responsibility to shepherd souls is so great, mere duty isn’t enough to sustain us. We need to be fueled by delight. We need a genuine love for Christ and for His people.

A few weeks ago, while Sterling was preaching here, I was at my dad’s church in Southern Ohio preaching there. My wife, who I can always count on for honest feedback about my preaching, told me afterwards that I sounded a little off my game. Like I was a bit nervous, a bit uncomfortable in the pulpit. I told her I was. She asked me why. I told her it was like the difference between cooking for someone you’ve never cooked for before and cooking for your family. When it’s family, you know exactly how they like it. You know exactly what they need. You love them and you’re loved by them. There’s a delight in the relationship that doesn’t exist with strangers. I feel the same way about you. I love preparing sermons for you because I love you!

Jesus loves you too much to saddle you with shepherds who are doing it out of mere duty. He wants us to be willing. But there’s a second heart requirement:

Giving Not Getting.

Jesus requires His under-shepherds to be motivated by what they can give, not what they hope to get. Look again at verse 2, not for shameful gain, but eagerly. Far too many men have entered the ministry because of what they hope to gain. For some it’s riches, like the prosperity charlatans who are fleecing the sheep that God has called them to serve. For others it’s praise. One of the most dangerous things about being in a loving church like PBC is that an elder often hears words of praise and encouragement. That’s a good thing! But if getting praise becomes our goal in ministry, we have been seduced by shameful gain.

Jesus loves you too much to saddle you with shepherds who are in it for what they can get. He wants us to be eager to give. But there’s a final heart requirement.

Demonstrating not Dominating.

Jesus requires His under-shepherds to demonstrate godly character, not dominate God’s church. Look at verse 3, not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

Suppose you asked me why my family is adopting a child. “You already have four kids! Why one more?” What if I told you, “I just love having little people to boss around!” You would be rightly concerned if that was my response. It’s just as wrong, if not more so, for an elder to be in it so he can have control or power over God’s people.

Church, your elders have both authority and the responsibility to lead you. But that does not mean that you cannot question us. It does not mean we we’re always right. It does not mean you cannot humbly question us. It does not mean it’s our way or the highway. God forbid that any of those things would be true of our leadership.

Elders, our job is to be examples of godliness to the flock. One commentator says this about this requirement to be an example: “There are many things that we can do in ministry without godliness and the fullness of the Spirit. We can lead meetings, prepare and deliver messages, organize and implement programs, win elections, and head committees. But we cannot help people abide in the Lord. To produce godly people we too must be godly. To produce people of prayer we too must be people of prayer. To produce people who walk close to God we too must walk close to God.”[ii]

Jesus loves you too much to saddle you with shepherds who seek to dominate you. He wants these to be men who demonstrate godliness.

So how do your elders keep these requirements? How do we cultivate this kind of character? How do we instill it in others? By looking first and foremost to Jesus. Look at verse 4, And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Church, your elders will love you best by loving you less than we love Jesus. Elders, let’s maintain these heart requirements by remembering that Jesus is coming back. And when He does, we’ll give an account for how we shepherded His sheep.

A few months ago, my 8-year-old daughter reminded me to look to Jesus when I was struggling with discouragement as a pastor. We have an Amazon Echo in our kitchen, and Zoe wanted to use it to listen to a kids' playlist. But I was struggling with discouragement, and I’ve learned that one of the things that helps me is to listen to music that draws my heart to Jesus. So I told Zoe that we were going to listen to a worship playlist instead. She asked why, so I told her it helped my heart be happy in Jesus. She said, "is your heart not happy in Jesus?" I said “well sometimes my heart hurts.” She said why? I said, "Because I think sometimes I'm not doing a good job being a pastor." Zoe looked at me and thought for a second and said, "I think you're a great pastor. But Jesus is the best pastor."

That’s the best news, isn’t it? Jesus is the best pastor. We’re going to fail you, church. Even the best team of elders (and I think we’ve got the best here at PBC) is going to hurt you. We’re going to fail. After all, Peter who’s writing these words certainly failed as a pastor too, didn’t he? But that’s not our hope. Jesus is our hope. He’s the best pastor there is. And He’s coming back soon.

But until He returns, Jesus hasn’t left you like sheep without a shepherd. He loves you too much for that.

 

[i] Jen Fulwiler, “If My Babysitting Ad Were Honest...,” Jen Fulwiler, May 18, 2015, https://jenniferfulwiler.com/2015/05/if-my-babysitting-ad-were-honest/.

[ii] Eckhard J. Schnabel, Acts, ed. Clinton E. Arnold, Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012), 528.