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Leading as Shepherds
#387, November 27, 2024
A shepherd is the most common biblical image of leadership. Shepherds are tasked with the responsibility to guide and protect the flock under their care which is a great picture of leadership. Yet, not all shepherds (leaders) lead as true shepherds. Consider Ezekiel’s words:
1The word of the LORD came to me: 2“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? 3You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. 4You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. 5So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. 6My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them (Ezekiel 34:1-6, NIV).
Ezekiel spoke for God and delivered His rebuke to the leaders of the nation. In doing so he revealed different ways shepherds can lead.
Shepherds see leadership either to benefit self or others.
The accusation against these leaders was that they were using the flock to care for their own needs. “Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?” The leaders were enjoying the meat, the wool, and the milk from the flock. God does not say that these things should not be enjoyed, but when the focus of the leaders was only on themselves it was wrong. Instead, they should have been focused on strengthening the weak and taking care of the sick and injured. God rebukes them because they “have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost.” If they would have strengthened the flock, they could have enjoyed a good lamb dinner. But when they focused on the dinner, they destroyed the flock.
Some leaders are continually focused on how they will benefit from their position but serving leaders use their position for the benefit of others. Some leaders ask “What’s in it for me?” but serving leaders say, “I’m in it for you!”
Shepherds use leadership either to display their own power or empower others.
Another accusation God makes is, “You have ruled them harshly and brutally.” These shepherds abused their power and used it to rule harshly. They showed no concern for the well-being of the sheep. Many leaders use their leadership role to let everyone know who’s the boss! They see care and compassion as signs of weakness instead of strength. But serving leaders are in power to empower. They use their authority to give authority to others. They show genuine care for those they lead.
Shepherds demonstrate leadership that scatters or unites others.
God describes the impact of the poor leadership on His people, “So they were scattered because there was no shepherd,...” Without adequate leadership, the sheep were lost and started wandering to other places. They looked elsewhere for direction and guidance and ultimately scattered. Some leaders use their power to “divide and conquer” people. They allow and encourage mistrust, petty gossip and division, believing that they will be more powerful when others are divided. But serving leaders use power to bring people together in ways that unite them. They believe strength comes from strong teams united around a common vision and goal.
As a leader, you are like a shepherd. What kind of shepherd will you choose to be?
For further reflection and discussion:
· What benefits do I enjoy as a leader? (List everything you think about, tangible and intangible items.) Then reflect on these questions:
o Do I lead because of these benefits or do I lead because of what I can do for others?
o Do the benefits I receive cause me to focus more on my own needs and desires than on those of the people I lead?
· How do I use the power I have? How quickly do I share power with others? What is the result in my leadership? (Reflect on a leadership action you took in the past week as you answer these questions.)
· Do I lead most naturally with the mentality of “divide and conquer” or “our unity is our strength”? What have I done in the past week to demonstrate this?
· Read the rest of this chapter (34) in Ezekiel and look for additional insights into the impact poor leaders have on others.
Until next time, yours on the journey,
Jon Byler |
