If the lambs are asking, “Where are the shepherds?” the elders aren’t doing their job. Elders should be there, vigilant, looking out for the welfare of the flock.
Who are the Shepherds?
How do you recognize a shepherd? Paul gave us a description of one in 1 Timothy 3:1-7. Much of it has to do with how they conduct themselves–not by what they say so much as by their example.
Three words are used to delineate this crucial work in the local church:
1. Elder, presbuteros, stresses the idea of spiritual maturity. See Acts 20:17; 1 Pet. 5:1; Titus 1:5.
2. Bishop, or overseer, episkopos, conveys to watch over, to oversee. Both terms refer to the same person, the elder (Acts 20:17, with v. 28; Also see Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:7; 1 Pet. 2:25.
3. Shepherd, poimen, emphasizes the care of and devotion to the sheep.
Thus the term “elder” emphasizes the character and maturity of the man; “overseer” highlights his function and work; and “shepherd” speaks of his devotion to the sheep.
The great example of the life, labor, and love of a shepherd is our Lord Jesus, of course. Elders, at best, are undershepherds. We need to remind ourselves that He is the chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4).
The appointment of elders is theocratic, not democratic. It is not a popularity contest. It must be strictly on the grounds of what we find in the Word of God. The Scriptures do not tell us an exact method of appointment. The original elders were appointed by the apostles. But as it was then, so it should be today: they were recognized by their life, their work, their devotion, and their ability to communicate the Scriptures.
The Holy Spirit is the one who makes overseers (Acts 20:28). You can’t get it by taking a course. Every shepherd needs to have a heart for the people of God implanted there by God Himself. We should all have a concern for one another, but in the heart of a shepherd is a special concern. Of course, you need to love the Lord first before you love the people of God (Jn. 21:15). If He is Lord of your life, then you will love what He loves–His sheep.
You also need a desire to do the work (1 Tim. 3:1). Being an elder is being a servant; you are going to be taking the position the Lord Jesus took. It’s a lowly work, a work that perhaps you will not get many “thank you’s” for, in this life. Yet when you see the saints in obedience, pleasing the Lord, it brings great joy to see your spiritual children walk in the truth (3 Jn. 1:4).
How many elders should there be? In Philippians 1:1, Paul addresses the elders–plural–in the local church. The term, when referring to this local church ministry, is always used in the plural. It would not be scriptural to be the elder of a church, or the pastor of a church. Shared leadership and shared responsibility is the biblical design.
What is a True Shepherd Like?
In 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 we have the qualifications and characteristics of the elders. Notice the personal, family, and church, qualities.
1. Blameless. The word means “one that cannot be laid hold of.” The elder is not sinless but should not be open to reproach. He has a good reputation among the Lord’s people.
2. The husband of one wife. He must be literally a one-woman man. The context of 1 Timothy 3 was the Ephesian culture, and Paul was dealing with the problems of polygamy and immorality. Yet the phrase describes an attitude as well as a condition. An elder must be loyal to his wife, maintaining the highest code of conduct with other women.
3. Vigilant, sober (of sound mind), of good behavior. These also ought to be hallmarks of a shepherd–watching out for dangers to the flock; being careful what he thinks and how he behaves.
4. Given to hospitality. This is one of the most neglected areas in being able to minister to the flock of God. Having the saints in our homes is perhaps the best way to get to know them in a personal way.
5. Apt to teach. Every Christian should be a Bible student, but this is something an elder must be. It doesn’t mean that elders are necessarily polished, platform men, but they are able to open up the Scriptures and show you what the Word of God means. If you ask them a question, they can help you find the answer.
6. Not given to wine, not a striker, not greedy of filthy lucre, but patient, not a brawler, not covetous. The Spirit-controlled life is marked by a passion for Christ that overrules baser passions. So it should be of every elder.
7. One who rules his house well. If you can’t take care of your children, don’t expect that you will be able to take care of the flock. There’s a problem if you don’t have authority in your own home. An elder should have moral persuasion, he should be taken seriously because he takes God and His Word seriously.
8. Not a novice. An elder should not be a new believer. He should be a man who is spiritually mature. When Paul called the Ephesian elders, they had not been believers for very long, but they were ahead of the other believers in Ephesus. An elder should not be a novice because of the temptation of being lifted up in pride, “lest he fall into the snare of the devil.”
Titus adds that elders should not be self-willed, but loving what is good, righteous, and self-controlled. We need men that will be faithful, that can’t be bought, men whose word is their bond, who put character above wealth, who are larger than their vocations, who will not lose their individuality in a crowd. The church needs men who will be as honest in small things as in great things, who will not compromise with wrong, whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires, who will not say they do it because everybody else does it. God give us elders who are true to their friends, who do not believe that shrewdness, cunning, and hardheartedness are the best ways to win success, who are not ashamed to stand up for the truth when it is unpopular, who can say ‘no’ when needed. We need faithful men–true to the Word of God.
William True said: “An elder is there to maintain the authority of the Lord in a practical way, in order to develop the spiritual and moral condition of the assembly for His glory who dwell in the midst.”
We’re not there for ourselves; we’re not there primarily for the flock; we are there for His glory who dwells in the midst. We have a responsibility to the Lord first to make sure that the condition of the assembly is such that it will glorify our Lord Jesus Christ.
Duties of a Shepherd
1. To oversee. To supervise the flock. This includes: instructing the ignorant, visiting the sick (Jas. 5:14), comforting the dying, consoling the bereaved, admonishing the disorderly, encouraging the fainthearted, supporting the weak, and restoring the fallen (Gal. 6:1). We declare and demonstrate the truth. We guard and guide (Heb. 13:17), watching for their souls.
2. To lead, not lord. We are not to drive the sheep, but to give them an example to follow. Light their way. Let them see for themselves what the Word of God says. Study it yourself, then feed the sheep and let them follow you as you follow the Lord (1 Thess. 5:12).
3. To labor, working among the saints. The idea is of strenuous toil, but it’s work that needs to be done and we need to do it. There is labor in the Word (1 Tim. 5:17) because the assembly needs to be given a full diet.
Is the Word of God consecutively taught? Is it clearly taught? Is it carefully taught? Is it consistently taught? Is there a variety of teaching ministry by capable men in your local assembly? Do the saints see enough of one another for the purpose of edifying, exhorting and comforting one another? Do we meet more than Sunday morning only? The food can’t be given to them all at once. It needs to be spread out over a period of time, throughout the week also. We need to be committed to the needs of the saints, so we must assess those needs. What do sheep need?
1. They need good food. Our goal? To have healthy sheep. The result would be an abundant life for them. It’s the shepherd’s role to feed them.
2. They need exercise. To give them joy in their Christian walk is our responsibility–to guide them that they walk on the narrow path will lead them to glory.
3. They need fresh air, need to be out doing the work that God has called them to. Fruitful labor is the result.
4. Protection. While they are in the fold, there is fellowship and security there. But the wolves are waiting, as are thieves and robbers. We also need to watch out for the hirelings who labor only for “filthy lucre’s sake.”
We don’t need half-hearted men. We need whole-hearted men, fully committed to the work of God.
5. Follow-up is so necessary, especially with stray lambs. Make sure that they know their responsibility to the Lord, to you, and to the flock. It produces safety for them, and it’s the shepherd’s role to lead them.
Balance in the Shepherd’s Life
The problem that a lot of us have is that we seem to lack the time to shepherd the flock. We know an assembly needs quality work. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Eccl. 9:10). We do need men of conviction in our assemblies, not men with excuses. If God is calling you to do this work, then you need to start doing it.
In addition to my assembly life, I have family, business, and personal responsibilities. There are going to be different responsibilities on different days that will determine what I can and cannot do. There are some days I cannot have any responsibilities in my local church (apart from praying for the saints). There are other days when I choose not to have any business responsibilities in order to commit myself more fully to my other responsibilities. We need to keep a balance in our lives, no matter how difficult it may be. We all receive 24 hours each day. It is not the amount of time that is the issue; it is the use of our time. “What counts is not the number of hours you put in, but what you put into the hours.”
Being one of a plurality of elders is certainly helpful. Working with elders who are like-minded, equally committed, means shared loads in our labors together.
Consider a likely scenario. You are busy with your employment, probably full-time. You have your family, perhaps including aging parents to care for. You might preach two or three times a month. You might have home Bible studies, or work with the youth group. You have visitation responsibilities. There is also your personal responsibility to stay in the Word, to pray, to evangelize.
What kind of schedule does this person have? The normal lifestyle for a shepherd seems to be: overworked, too many responsibilities. Is there a solution? Some would say it’s impossible. But it is possible! But not without the call of God, the help of God, the wisdom of God, and the balance that only God can give you.
There isn’t one formula that every elder can follow. But there are three things that we can do:
1. Plan everything with the Lord first. If you don’t include Him in your planning, you’re going to have some major logistical problems. Make sure that it’s His will before you take on other responsibilities, before you make any major decisions in life.
2. Look after this day first. Remember that day is coming. This day and that day were the two days on Paul’s calender. He did what he had to do today, but he always remembered it was that day which was the day of accountability (Heb. 13:17).
3. We must make some tough choices: refusing to work overtime, choosing not to have a second job, using those evenings and weekends–the time that others spend working or recreating–for your family, your assembly, and for your personal responsibilities in a balanced way. Work less if you can. Take advantage of flex hours. Consider early retirement. It will be worth every dollar you’ve given up and every hour you’ve gained.
We need shepherds who are going to be wholly committed. “O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust” (1 Tim. 6:20). We need to go on, we need to keep on, we need to press on, we need to carry on.
Some Practical Suggestions
Assess your assembly as to its most pressing needs. For example:
* Are we sure that worship has its place of priority? Are we giving the Lord His portion first?
* Could the teaching in your assembly be improved? I think it’s important to give younger men an opportunity for development of gift, but it shouldn’t be done in a way that compromises the diet of the Christians.
* Are the saints equipped for evangelism? That’s the mission of every believer.
* Are they challenged to be holy? The church is to be spotless and holy in our character. We need to be teaching separation. We’re not to be isolated, but insulated.
* What is fellowship? Who is in fellowship? What are the conditions for fellowship? Reception into the assembly is an important area.
* Absenteeism. When people aren’t there, there’s a reason. Find out. Let them know you care.
We also need to focus on our own tasks, not what others should be doing. Elders shouldn’t be doing what other people in the assembly could be doing.
Distinguish the important from the urgent. There are some things that you need to do. Do them. Don’t just do the things that are demanding your attention.
Keep the big picture. We need to remember that this is a long race. What we don’t get done today, we need to get done tomorrow. We can’t do it all at once. But until He comes, we need to keep on working. Then, “when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (1 Pet. 5:4).