What is Godly Leadership? (1 Peter 5:1-4)

INTRODUCTION:

Sadly, our world has decided that power, prestige, and personal gain matter most and deserve our utmost attention. Yet, when we consider God and His desire for what matters most, He calls the leaders to behave radically differently. The apostle Peter paints us a picture of godly leadership that goes against the grain of the ambitions of the world. Our portion of Scripture that we will consider was written to elders specifically, but has principles that apply to all leadership in the spiritual field, whether it is in the pulpit, home, or among our friends. This passage answers a timeless question: What is godly leadership?

A CALL TO CARE

The heart of a shepherd does not parade dominance but one of outstanding care. Peter begins this address by saying that the elders shepherd the flock among them (1 Peter 5:2). The Greek word for shepherd is ποιμάνατε, and it conveys the mindset of herding a flock as a true shepherd would. This causes us to wonder how a shepherd cares for those in the flock. Phillip Keller wrote A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23: Discovering God’s Love For You and inserted the following:

The greatest single safeguard that a shepherd has in handling his flock is to keep them on the move. That is to say, they dare not be left on the same ground too long. They must be shifted from pasture to pasture periodically. This prevents overgrazing of the forage. It also avoids the rutting of trails and erosion of land from overuse. It forestalls the reinfestation of the sheep with internal parasites or disease, since the sheep move off the infested ground before these organisms complete their life cycles.

While this analogy is not expected to be carried through literally with mankind likened to sheep, it does give an understanding of what a leader (Shepherd/Elder) is supposed to accomplish for those they are shepherding. Feed, guide, protect, and even lay down one's life before allowing the sheep to die. Think of the implication on the heart that is shown here. A poor shepherd will not watch over the sheep, but instead leave them to their own devices, and what happens is Chaos. Keller further supports this thought:

The first sheep farm I purchased as a young man was a piece of derelict land that had been “sheeped to death.” An absentee owner had rented the place to a tenant. The latter simply loaded the ranch with sheep then left them pretty much to their own ways. The result was utter desolation. Fields became so overgrazed and impoverished they would grow little but poverty grass. Little sheep trails had deteriorated into great gullies. Erosion on the slopes was rampant, and the whole place was ravaged almost beyond repair.

Remember, sheep need to be constantly on the move or they will, to their detriment, eat everything in sight and leave it to ruin, thus impairing their own future. The man that Keller is describing is shameful for doing this to such a helpless animal. A greater shame that someone would allow it to happen to someone’s spiritual life. Consider what the Psalmist says of the example of David and how he “shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart” (Psalm 78:72). This stands in sharp contrast to the shepherds who were failures because they neglected, abused, and scattered the flock (Ezekiel 34:2-4). Jesus showcases, as the “Good Shepherd,” that He is the model example of such behavior. The writer of our selected passage for this study was told three times to “Feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17). His companion and fellow apostle, Paul, would echo to the Ephesian elders that they must truly “Shepherd the church of God” and take this calling with great care (Acts 20:28). There is not a single passage that promotes godly leadership where the leaders were concerned with their following. Only one such passage comes close, and it is the one where the religious leaders delivered Jesus up to be killed because of the envy they felt for His following (Matthew 27:18). It has never been about the leaders and always about the One we follow. If we genuinely care for those we lead (members or otherwise), we will deliver care that can only be found among godly leadership.

A CHARGE TO CONDUCT

Peter continues his thoughts by pointing out that leaders are not to behave with dishonest gain on their minds but rather serve eagerly. They are not acting as lords over the ones entrusted to them but as actual examples to the flock (1 Peter 5:2-3). Godly leadership is not one of manipulation or domination but rather demonstration. The lifestyle of a leader is the loudest sermon that can ever be preached and received. Remember the call that Micah gave for what the Lord truly requires?

He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)

If a leader spends his days walking in pride, corruption will follow him. The people can rejoice if they choose to walk in holiness (Proverbs 29:2)! When the Holy Spirit gave Paul the qualifications for Elders (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9), there was an emphasis placed upon character before charm. While a leader cannot be infallible, he must be what Paul described: above reproach, self-controlled, hospitable, and mature in the faith.

Think about the failed leadership of King Saul and how that failure came to pass. He did not start as a failure, but soon his pride got the better of him. Remember how he could not be bothered to go into battle with Goliath (1 Samuel 17:11, 37-38)? I had never seen this before, but Saul gave David his own armor that should have gone out into the fray. This armor did not fit David, and though the parallel is not explicitly stated in Scripture, it is interesting to notice that not only did the armor not fit David, but the conduct of Saul was in stark contrast to what David’s character was. This is not even the most egregious example of Saul’s conduct failing to live up to the charge of what a King was expected to do. He offered the sacrifice that was not his right to offer (1 Samuel 13:8-10), and when he had completed this sinful practice, he blamed Samuel for not being there at the given time (1 Samuel 13:11-12). Then, two chapters later, he foregoes the completion of God’s command because “the people persuaded him, " which cost him his kingship (1 Samuel 15:1-28).

Has much changed besides the kingdom being now more commonly called the church? How many elders deny their qualifications and circumvent the Will of God by doing “their own thing?” What of the other leaders in the congregation? Are they following after Saul or Paul? Godly leaders are never power-hungry, but pattern makers. They don’t make it a habit of demanding holiness from others but instead demonstrate it in themselves and pray that others will follow suit (1 Corinthians 11:1).

A COMMITMENT TO THE CROWN

Finally, Peter charges the leadership to remember their final motivation (1 Peter 5:4). Temporary accolades get us nowhere in the grand scheme of eternity. Authentic godly leadership serves with eternity in view! Focusing on our commitment to the crown is not just a “1 Peter concept” but one riddled throughout the New Testament. It was four chapters earlier that Peter proclaimed what the crown promises:

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5)

Paul talked about this same crown awaiting his arrival in Heaven when his work was completed (2 Timothy 4:6-8), which he longed to receive (Philippians 1:20-23). The longing caused a commitment to what had never been seen, touched, or experienced in any way! This is why Paul persuades his audience in Corinth to:

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

Paul’s commitment was to chase it every day to ensure he would not be disqualified from receiving the imperishable crown! Is this not the same mentality that the Apostle John recorded for the churches of Sardis (Revelation 2:10) and Philadelphia (Revelation 3:11)? Perhaps in the USA, we have an unfortunate lack of understanding of what makes a crown truly special. The honor and respect shown for any kingdom in our World’s history pale compared to that of the incorruptible crown that awaits all who lead their lives and the lives of others to glory!

CONCLUSION

As leaders, are we placing forth the proper understanding of a genuine commitment to obtaining the crown? Will that understanding and level of pursuit, as Peter, Paul, John, and countless others, not shape our leadership? Would our Bible classes be filled with a desire to dive in deeper? Will our songs be sung with greater joy for all selected verses being led? Will the preacher be able to preach the truth with conviction and compassion, and less worry about the countdown before the “tomatoes are thrown” their way, or preach what is often called a “moving sermon”? Will our work days be seen with greater attendance? Will we find ourselves seeking the opportunities to reach out to the one we know could be converted? Will our care for those under our charge be seen in such a fashion that they will want to follow us? Will our conduct be seen as far above reproach as possible? Will we serve as Godly leaders?