The Holy Spirit appoints our shepherds to care for us, and in Acts 20, Paul reminds these shepherds of their roles. Paul had spent three years with the Ephesian church leaders and so he was an example for them to follow in terms of shepherding under God’s anointing…
28 “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders. 29 I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. 30 Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. 31 Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you.
32 “And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself.
33 “I have never coveted anyone’s silver or gold or fine clothes. 34 You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me. 35 And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
36 When he had finished speaking, he knelt and prayed with them. 37 They all cried as they embraced and kissed him good-bye.
Acts 20:28-37 NLT
There are several warnings in the New Testament about guarding the flock and being on the watch for false teachers and scammers. The people of God are at risk of false prophets and false teachers leading them astray. There is a natural vulnerability when you put yourself in the care of a spiritual leader/teacher. The trust of that relationship can be violated or exploited very easily.
God views his flock as his children whom he ransomed with his own blood. We are more valuable to him than we could know. So, he cares about the vicious wolves coming for us. The Holy Spirit appoints our shepherds to care for us, and Paul reminds these shepherds of their roles.
The false teachers often arise from within the flock. They will distort the truth to draw a following. This happens for their own benefit. Unlike Paul these wolves covet silver, gold, and fine clothes. They don’t help those in need. They want to receive on the backs of the innocence of the flock.
This is why Paul reminds the Ephesian leaders how he was with them as an example for them to follow. He was with them for three years and constantly watched over them with care. Shepherding is a 24 hour job, apparently, as this was ‘night and day’ for Paul with ‘many tears.’ This shepherding stuff is not for the faint of heart. It is for the Holy Spirit appointed and anointed.
Paul worked and ministered to supply the needs of himself and his workers. Let’s be careful to not take this to mean pastors should all have jobs outside the church. This was a very formative period in which the resources of emerging churches were likely not sufficient to support him. We see Paul’s intention to not be a financial burden on his mission fields in 1Thessalonians 2:9 and 2Corinthians 11:7. He didn’t want his financial needs to interfere with the gospel, which is free of charge.
He says here to the Ephesians that he is an example of how to help people in need by working hard and he quotes Jesus: “It is more blessed to give than receive.” As an aside, you might know that this statement of Jesus isn’t recorded in the gospels. Don’t worry about that. John 21:25 helps to explain. Jesus taught and did “many other things” that could not be written down because the “world could not contain the books that would be written.”
Shepherds, give! Care! Look After! Protect! You are appointed and anointed for this purpose.
Amen.
Marc Kinna
marckinna 