“Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly” (1 Peter 5:2).
Despite its seemingly conventional appearance, 1 Peter 5:2-3 offers a wealth of practical wisdom in a concise package. In fact, this passage carries so many important implications that we will take an extended look at this portion of Scripture. For example, this passage can help church leaders approach their ministry in a God-honoring manner. It can also help God’s people identify virtuous leaders and avoid those who are less so.
These verses present us with three sets of contrasting behaviors that can help us make these determinations. Each set contains a negative (and undesirable) trait, followed by a positive and desirable example. For instance…
- Verse two: do not serve by compulsion (negative). Instead, serve willingly (positive).
- Verse two: do not use God’s work to facilitate dishonest gain (negative). Instead, serve eagerly (positive).
- Verse three: do not lord your authority over others (negative). Instead, set the right example (positive).
These contrasts suggest that there were some leaders who exhibited these negative characteristics at the time this letter was originally written. If such was the case in Peter’s era, then we should be more alert to such possibilities today.
On the other hand, a bi-vocational minister who serves a congregation while holding a secular job offers a positive illustration. While many of us labor at jobs we wouldn’t do unless we received a paycheck, bi-vocational pastors selflessly persevere in their ministries, even in the absence of financial support from their congregations. Such leaders embody the spirit of 1 Peter 5:2, for they willingly serve in response to God’s calling, not because they receive payment. (1)
We’ll consider this aspect of 1 Peter 5:2 at greater length in a future study. But for now, this passage offers an important consideration for ministers and those contemplating a ministry opportunity. If the burden of a leadership position has become unbearable, then it may be time to reassess our role in that work. While it is normal to experience periods of weariness or discouragement in ministry, there is cause for concern when a ministry position becomes overwhelmingly burdensome. Equally concerning is a circumstance where we accept a ministry position in order to fulfill someone else’s desire or expectation.
1 Peter 5:2 tells us that we should serve “…willingly in order to please God, and not simply because you think you must” (CEV). If we are serving God from some other motive, then we should prayerfully consider the possibility that God is leading us toward another avenue of ministry.
(1) See here for a discussion regarding the legitimacy of vocational (or “full-time”) ministry.