In our last post, we noticed how shepherds led by providing a living example. What is equally clear is that they could not wield their influence without being “among the sheep.” One cannot be a leader until he has followers and he cannot have followers until such a close companionship of shepherd/sheep is developed. The Scriptures speak of the Shepherd “knowing” his sheep, and the sheep know his voice and follow him (John 10:4-5). They look to him because they had great confidence in his teaching, love, and care. Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:12, “Know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.” The relationship was so tender that the description of the Lord as our shepherd in Psalms 23 has touched the lives of all. A shepherd “gathers the lambs in his arms, and carries them in his bosom, and will gently lead those that are with young” (Isa. 40:11). Of all the descriptions of shepherds and their work, they were dedicated to the task of caring for souls. It is a way of life that knows no boundaries of time, sacrifice, and energy.
An unfortunate perception of modern-day shepherds and the flock’s relationship to them is taken from secular society. Since they have moved from the oversight of souls to the oversight of local church organizations, they assume positions of authority modeled after the secular world of business. New Testament elders were not bosses who made decisions for everyone else and enforced those decisions on its members. Certainly, they were not dictators who had the right to enforce their will over men and women because they were voted and approved by men. In fact, they were not appointed by popular vote. They were appointed by either an apostle or evangelist to continue to work that had already begun.