Each day in the field, two types of shepherds can be observed in God’s flock.
The first is categorized by observable responsibility to the sheep and to Christ, and the second is that of privilege and title, seeking the praise of man. When a lamb strays, whatever is in the shepherd’s heart is then made known by his action or lack thereof.
The useful shepherd is driven by love for the sheep as well as his Lord and therefore, takes up his duty to pursue the lost sheep. This isn’t gratifying to the flesh, it doesn’t flatter men, and it doesn’t take the easy road of “title only” or “hireling” shepherding.
This faithful shepherd doesn’t take a poll asking the other unconcerned sheep of the flock whether or not he should pursue the missing lamb because he has a sense of personal responsibility and duty. The other type of shepherd is that of a hireling. When this type of “title only” shepherd learns of a sheep going astray he says in his heart, “Don’t trouble yourself. You have 99 others, plenty to justify your continued employment.”
When the wolf does eventually come to this hireling-shepherd’s flock, he sees the wolf from afar and leaves (John 10:11-17). This is because his eyes were not on the lookout for the sake of the sheep but rather his own self-preservation. He would say to himself, “After all, I could be hurt protecting the sheep; this is too costly.” This type of shepherd is driven by vain glory; he yearns to receive the praise of men.
How would the apostle Paul react to this action? I believe we see the answer in Galatians 1:10, where Paul says:
“For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.”
The hireling-shepherd may have acted differently if there was a large crowd watching him fight a wolf for he could have lapped up his much desired vain glory that he is so fond of.
Contrast this to the shepherd that when seeing the wolf approaching ready to shred the newborn lamb takes up his staff to protect the sheep, regardless of what it costs him. May we, as small, but by God’s grace, faithful under-shepherds to the great shepherd be characterized by love that lays down our lives for the sheep. May we put the nourishment, safety, and well-being of the sheep before our eyes. May the words of the apostle Paul that we see in 2 Corinthians 12:15 be stamped on our shepherds’ hearts, ready to spend and be expended for the sheep.
“So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?”
