We will devote 5 articles to exploring distorted leadership models. We got this concept from the book They Smell Like Sheep by Lynn Anderson.
In this series, we will consider one of the following distorted leadership models:
- Hired hand – Just in it for what he gets out of it (money, power, or praise). This man is not truly invested as a shepherd is in his sheep.
- Cowboy – The cowboy drives cattle, the shepherd leads sheep. There is a huge difference between a cowboy and a shepherd.
- CEO – Instead of leading the church by being in others’ living rooms, he’s making decisions behind close doors in the boardroom.
- Sheriff – Flashing the badge, he’s the rule enforcer.
- Utility Player – The person who does it all and doesn’t delegate. The person who likes to play all the positions. He may be pretty good at a lot of jobs, but others need to be doing those jobs.
Distorted Leadership Models – The Hired Hand
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
(John 10:11-15)
The hired hand sees the wolf and flees, leaving the sheep without a protector. Why? There is nothing in it for him. He’s just there for a paycheck. He has no vested interest. Unlike the shepherd, he doesn’t know the sheep and he doesn’t have an intimate knowledge of each sheep. The shepherd sees the wolf, stays with the sheep, fights for the sheep and lays down his life for his sheep.
Look around at your congregation. Which men are the ones truly invested in the souls of the congregation? That’s your starting list of candidates for elders/shepherds! Then look to 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 to see if they meet the other qualities. That’s where you start – are these men truly the type that care for souls? Are they the type of men who get in the trenches and get muddy and bloody for the souls of others? Or are they the kind of men that stand aloof or bail when it gets tough?
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.
(Acts 20:28-31)
Do you see Paul in this above passage? Night and day for three years with tears! That’s a man who is not a hired hand. Here we see what Jesus is talking about. Paul made a special effort to meet with these Ephesian elders/shepherds (Acts 20:16-17). He wanted them to be forewarned and alert about what was coming to the flock.
His heart was for these elders to see the flock as he did. The flock of Ephesian souls was purchased by the precious blood of Christ. It is the Holy Spirit that appointed these men as overseers of this local body of believers. This local church had great value to the Chief Shepherd, and as shepherds these men were to have the same heart – the heart of God.
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
(1 Peter 5:1-4)
What is the motive of a shepherd according to Peter?
Not of compulsion – it is to be done willingly. I changed my diet out of compulsion, it wasn’t a joy, it was a drudgery. I’ve had a root canal out of compulsion, I certainly didn’t tap dance into the dentist office! There are many things we do because we are forced to, but serving God’s people shouldn’t be one of them. Look around at your congregation, which men do things out of joy and kindness? I mean, if it is like pulling teeth to get a guy to do something, do you really want him to serve as a shepherd?
Not for shameful gain, but eagerly – It’s not about the money. It can never be about the money. The love of money is the root of all sorts of evil (1 Timothy 6:10), including making a corrupt church leader. A man who really loves the brethren will serve them for free. He does it eagerly, not for a paycheck.
But please let me follow that up with this. An elder can be paid to do this very important work (1 Timothy 5:17). I wish more elders were paid to do this incredibly valuable work. I’ve met a lot of elders who didn’t want to be paid because they were afraid of violating passages like John 10 and 1 Peter 5. They are concerned about becoming hired hands. It is clear that they are not in it for the money, and those are the kind of men we should consider paying to serve as shepherds/elders. A lot of churches have gotten locked into the traditional mindset of paying a local preacher, even a second preacher, and sending money oversees to other preachers, but do not seem to contemplate compensating their shepherds. Read 1 Timothy 5:17 with your congregation, and pray about this with your group.