Page 162 - GRACE

The Dangers of Grace

everyone to whom much is given, from him much
will be required; and to whom much has been

committed, of him they will ask the more.”

Pastors and church leaders have a divine obligation to lead
the flock of God with a sense of accountability to God. We
are expected to serve the people as unto the Lord, doing it
faithfully, knowing that our reward will come from Him if
we are consistent and diligent about it. See the way Peter,
the apostle, puts it in 1 Pet. 5:1-4.

“The elders who are among you I exhort, I who
am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of
Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will
be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is
among you, serving as overseers, not by
compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain
but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted
to you, but being examples to the flock; and when
the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the
crown of glory that does not fade away.”

As leaders over God’s heritage we cannot afford to lead the
people for selfish reasons, for fame, financial advancement,
open doors in ministry, large membership that we can brag
about; we dare not make our massive building projects and
personal fortunes our focus in ministry. These are wrong
motives for which no leader should aspire to be set over
God’s people.

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