Church leaders

“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; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” 1 Peter 5:2-3
In several places in the Scriptures we read instructions that are given to church leaders. It’s interesting to read these and take note of what they say. Do you measure up to these?
1) ‘Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care’. The local church congregation does not belong to the pastor or church leader. It belongs to God. The people need to be treated well, fed, and protected, as a shepherd protects his master’s sheep.
2) ‘serving as overseers’. Church leaders are to oversee, stepping in where needed, but allowing the Holy Spirit to work in the lives of believers.
3) ‘not because you must, but because you are willing’. Anyone who is leading a church out of a sense of obligation, should quit. They should only do it because they are willing to, and God has called them to it.
4) ‘not greedy for money’. I don’t really need to elaborate this one! (See also 1 Tim. 6:5.)
5) ‘eager to serve’. Leading a church is hard work, but the leader who has been truly called by God will be empowered to do it by the Holy Spirit. Again note that leaders are supposed to serve the congregation.
6) ‘not lording it over those entrusted to you’. Don’t think that your position as a leader in the church means you can treat other people badly, like the world does. In Jesus’ kingdom, the hierarchy is upside-down (Matt. 18:4, Matt. 20:26, Matt. 23:11, Mark 9:35, etc.).
7) ‘being examples to the flock’. This is an attitude that Paul had towards the believers in the churches he planted (1 Cor. 11:1, Phil. 3:17, 2 Thess. 3:7) and encouraged others to adopt also (1 Tim. 4:12, Tit. 2:7).