In human society, we often see the opposite of the traits Peter advises in today’s focus. We see people with important political positions using their places of favor to gain riches in this world. Rather than serving people gladly with honest motives, they take advantage of the powerless and weak. In our entertainment culture, people of prominence—singers, movie stars, athletes—hold so much influence that they become millionaires many times over in a short time. Our media glamorizes these people, making them superior to all other people on planet Earth. They become our gods as we desire to be like them, working hard to gain influence over others by seeking positions of prominence similar to those we adulate. But Peter tells the elders in the church to watch over the flock gladly without seeking a place of prominence or of gain. He tells young men to be humble, not desiring to be the important person in any room but the one who willingly waits on others, submits to others. Of course, all of this is diametrically different from what we see in the world. At any level of today’s sports, we see participants beating their chests or celebrating brazenly when they accomplish an objective such as scoring a goal or winning a contest. They often strut with their chests out, looking as if they had performed the most marvelous feat any human has ever accomplished. Of course, they should be happy to perform well, but the idea of superiority over all others is nonsense. We are not teaching our young people humility, but to be as the gorilla in the jungle, beating his chest to demonstrate to all challengers that he is the meanest, strongest, gorilla in all the world. In Christian circles, even knowing that God opposes the proud and shows favor to the humble, we too teach our young people to be less than humble. Our activities and actions often follow the world in its self-aggrandizement. Peter asks the elders and the youths to display God’s goodness. He asks Christians to look after the well-being and self-esteem of others, not using personal success or position to lord it over others. If Christians ignore God’s commands, we are like Adam and Eve: Did God really say, You must not eat from any tree in the garden? Did God really say, Love your neighbors as yourselves? Did He really say, Elders, be sensitive and good shepherds? Did He really say, Young people, be humble? Adam and Eve’s sin was ignoring God’s commandment not to eat of that tree. We too must consider God’s words relevant in our lives, for they are everlasting and true. For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. (Psalm 33:4)
Knowing the word, older Christians should be shepherding the ones they can influence. Mothers and dads should be cognizant that they are shepherds of their children. If your friends look up to you as an important person, you should realize your shepherding responsibilities to them. We demonstrate God’s saving power by the way we live and talk. Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be. How far should your shepherding go with your family members and friends? As far as the kindness of the Lord is shone through you. When you begin to lord it over others because of your insights in a careless and unkind manner, then you should stop and reconsider how much God loves you. As a shepherd of any kind, you must consider paramountly the needs of others: treating them as you desire to be treated; advising them exactly as you want to be advised. Anything else gets into the area of dominance and sin. We are to set people free from the law of good and bad, pointing them to Christ and his goodness because a shepherd leads sheep to good pasture, fresh water. As we lead our friends, children, relatives to that good pasture with fresh, living water flowing through it, they will meet Christ and find a new life of peace and eternal comfort through the Holy Spirit. Without Christ, the sheep live on a rocky terrain of good and evil, of right and wrong; but because of the grace of God, they now live in an environment of the righteousness of Jesus Christ. They have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness (Romans 6:18), the righteousness of Jesus Christ. In their new life, the sheep eat daily of the heavenly manna presented to them, drinking continuously from the living waters of the Holy Spirit. Their lives consist of serving God by being strong in the Lord: the Word and the Spirit. The good elder will lead his people to this pasture by the integrity of his life: his actions, his words. If his actions and words are contrary to God’s will for people, if he is self-centered, lacking love for others, controlled by does and don’ts, the sheep will find themselves in a pasture that does not reflect the nature of the Good Shepherd. That false shepherd will be judged harshly by the Good Shepard when He arrives to judge all things. But if those who have influence on others lead people to the land of mercy and grace, they will be judged with mercy and grace. When Jesus separates the sheep and the goats, and the sheep ask when they did the good things. Jesus says, Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. (Matthew 25:40)
The Lord desires to teach every elder and every young person—every believer— about his mercy and grace. We are all dependent upon God. That life, that pasture, is where all Christians should abide. Without understanding the mercy and grace of God in our lives, we are subject to the devil’s work of chaos and sin. The peace and joy we have as God’s children lessens if we do not understand our strength because of what God has done for us through Jesus Christ’s work. We may lack power when the devil comes against us as a roaring lion if we do not understand our position in Christ. Even worse, without the peace of grace in our lives, we might become instruments of discord, of inharmonious words and actions. We will be critical of others, judgmental, uncaring, lacking love and the enduring compassion of the Lord. The pasture of God is one dependent on loving God and loving others. People with hate in their hearts cannot live successfully in the presence of God with the Holy Spirit’s words in their minds. Christians cannot live in that pasture of grace and mercy with unresolved issues against others and unforgiveness ruling over them. Saying words or doing things that are not in the context of God’s love for others is like shepherds using people to pursue dishonest gain. Elders and young people should remember, they are in the pasture of God’s grace and mercy, and they are his chosen people, greatly loved. Consequently, we should cloth ourselves every day with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if anyone has a grievance against us. Forgive as the Lord forgave us. And above all these virtues put on love, which binds us all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:12-14) Christians, old and young, should be examples to the flock, to others. People should know who we are: servants of the Most High. With the responsibility of leading others, we should follow Christ’s example as servants to all. If we want to be considered important in the kingdom of heaven, we should submit, serve, prefer others over ourselves. This runs contrary to our fleshly nature, but this is God’s desire for us. God has asked us to be obedient to his calling as humble children. He has told us that He will lift us up in due time, maybe in this world but definitely in the next world, the kingdom of God. Therefore, relax in the Lord’s hand, eat and drink in his pasture, and the peace of God that passes all understanding will be yours. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
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