A calling

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER OF PETER

A CALLING

1 Peter 5:1-4

5:1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 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; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

NIV

This is specifically directed to those who are pastors of the church. Local pastors who have been called to shepherd the flock of God. We are not sure just how that was exactly fulfilled in those days, however, today we have several methods. The first are those denominations who assign their clergy to a specific local church. The second are those denominations which do pastor searches, and interviews a prescriptive minister for specific job title, such as Senior Pastor, Assistant Pastor, Youth Pastor, Worship Pastor, or whatever other titles they come up with. The point is this type of situation can appear in some respect like a job, a paid position of ministry. We cannot be sure that was the case in the day of Peter, but we live with this way of pastoring today. Either way, being a pastor of a church should be a calling from God, not a life choice as many professions are. Again, we are not sure how all the seminaries and Bible colleges all fit into the church today as it would seem in order to fulfill the call of God, one must undergo paying for the right to obtain a license and then paying, even more, to obtain an ordination within many of the denominations. It almost seems they have turned the call of God into a business. But then we have to make sure those who are pastors are, in fact, called by God. It also appears there are those who are not called by God but work as ministers. Peter is making the point that those who are called by God to shepherd the flock, should indeed by shepherds, not paid staff. He makes sure they are not to be greedy for money, but rather be eager to serve. It is not that Peter is saying to be a pastor, a shepherd, one must be poor, but simply not looking at this work as a job, being concerned as to how much is the pay, what are the benefits, is there an expense account, insurance, housing allowance and all the other concerns any job interview would contain. Of course, Paul also makes it clear that those who conduct the affairs of the church are due double honor, that pastors should not muzzled, for a worker desires his wages. Just don’t get greedy. He makes sure this is not so much a position of authority as much as it is one of service, not lording the position of the pastor as some high and mighty leader, but rather live as an example, so show those entrusted to them, by God, the way of life as a believer. This puts a whole new spin of all this televangelist out there who are not living as an example but certainly appear to be greedy and looking for praise from men rather than from God. They are not what Peter is referring to as shepherds of the flock. The local pastor who knows his sheep, and who lives among them being that example. This cannot be a choice, or a job, but a calling.