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.1
Peter begins this writing as saying he is a fellow elder, he is identifying himself in maturity with other elders, having experienced the sufferings of Christ, and is pleading with them that they shepherd the flock wisely. To shepherd the flock is to be a wise overseer, to exercise oversight wisely. This word for overseer is episkopéō (from epí, "on, fitting," intensifying skopéō, "look intently") – properly, focus on, look at with real (caring) interest. It is being diligent at caring for the people, it is not compulsive, self seeking, nor is it lording over the people, it is being submissive to one another through humility, it is leading by example.2
A great leader doesn't lead compulsively. This word for compulsion is anagkastṓs of necessity, by way of compulsion, unwillingly, by force (from anagkē, to compress, press tight). This says I am not to lead this way, out of necessity, because someone or something is forcing or pressing me to do this, say a higher authority. This implies both from above and from below; I am not doing it because I am being forced nor do I force others. I lead willingly by example, thus I am not forcing or pressing others, putting them under compulsion to be obedient. It is my will at work and I should allow that of others to work also, this allows God to work. I can demand obedience from my position but I can never demand respect and loyalty, this must be earned. It can be if I am leading by example. Great leaders lead with a sound mind.
Peter begins this writing as saying he is a fellow elder, he is identifying himself in maturity with other elders, having experienced the sufferings of Christ, and is pleading with them that they shepherd the flock wisely. To shepherd the flock is to be a wise overseer, to exercise oversight wisely. This word for overseer is episkopéō (from epí, "on, fitting," intensifying skopéō, "look intently") – properly, focus on, look at with real (caring) interest. It is being diligent at caring for the people, it is not compulsive, self seeking, nor is it lording over the people, it is being submissive to one another through humility, it is leading by example.2
A great leader is diligently caring for his people. This is of the greatest commandment of God, to love God and others. This is not the mindset of the old English concept of lording over a peasant, you are a peasant, therefore you are not important to me, such in God's kingdom is basically exalting self as if God. Pride is a great sin, this was the sin of Satan. The Bible says humility gives you the favor of God, so keep this in mind. Realize your positional, organizational authority doesn't give you spiritual authority over someone, such is given by God. Have you ever been around someone who made you feel important? they are diligently caring for you. There is an important distinction between these two types of leaders; thise who care and those who lord over. One is of God, the other of the world, One serves, the other lords over. Leadership is not self seeking but of service, it diligently cares for others.
A great leader is a servant to His people. God's leaders must not lead for self seeking purposes. sordid or dishonest gain, greedily, or in a spirit of eagerness for base gain. A leader must accomplish the mission set before him but he can't forsake the welfare of the people in the process, this is the essence of godly leadership. I can not break God's greater principles of love and treating others as myself in the name of stewardship, calling, or because I am unable to discern spirits of the enemy. God leads us with Grace, His banner is love, he perfects us by love into being obedient. He doesn't force it upon us, we have free will and he seeks loyalty. The Bible states He lavishes Grace on us and His mercy triumphs judgement. I am still required to follow his instructions but my banner is love. He gives instructions, holds accountable; he disciplines, teaches, and trains. He never forsakes, he knew who I was when he chose me and sealed me by his Holy Spirit. Great leaders serve His people.
Not leading by compulsion also implies that I should not be demanding obedience by way of compulsion, which ultimately reinforces that I should be caring for those under me. If I really care for someone I will not press or use force to demand obedience, it is by my example respect is earned. A good analogy of compulsion is a sales person "pressing" someone into buying an item, this is not a God thing, this uses compulsion to press people into something. This word is also used when speaking of being a cheerful giver, I am cheerful because I have purposed in my heart, not because I was forced or pressed into it, nor because I feel regret nor guilt. I should not use emotion, fear, nor force to demand money nor obedience.
Leading willingly is the example that God gives us. Jesus said to the disciples, I have been an example to you. He was a humble servant, his authority was not in pressing or forcing people to believe nor obey. He came not to condemn the world but to save it, and he gives us a spirit not of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind. If we are not given a spirit of fear by God then it is of the enemy. The enemy also brings condemnation, accusations, lies, and disorder, with this spirit of fear, he brings confusion that is working against a sound mind. When we by way of compulsion, press or force people into submission we use tactics of the enemy, confusing their minds, thus allowing the enemy to gain a foothold, thereby defeating God's cause. In a similar manner we use fear and compulsion, pressing people into salvation. While God uses many things despite our ignorance, there is a more excellent way, it is love.
Great leaders lead from humility. Humility is a sign of godliness, it is not some external show of piety, no, true humility is rewarded with grace from God. This word for grace here is charis which means grace, favor, kindness, Do we lead as of God or as of the world? we need a charis school to teach this type of leading. This is so opposite of the world and its thinking; the world demands leadership by positional authority, but God says when you lead by example his charis (favor, grace, kindness) is given to you. With God's favor others who seek Him will surely follow. Jesus led by humility, he had God's favor upon him, he just said come follow me, and they dropped everything to follow him. Such favor we can have. This leadership is by example, of the favor of God, not of this world.
If you have ever been around this type of leadership you know what I speak of, you sense in your spirit this is of God, such is rare today as it is a spirit of compulsion, which is not of God. Jesus gave such an example of leadership. Leadership can't require humility without providing an example of it. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility. because God opposes the proud however to the humble he gives favor. This Grace will be seen and experienced by others who are under this Grace also, they will humbly submit to such an example because they know it is of God. At the heart of any relationship is trust. People who seek God trust you when they experience affirmation from God. God does truly exalt those with humility, because his favor is given to them.
Great leadership requires suffering. Peter writes that this type of leadership doesn't come naturally. We have to diligently seek it, as the enemy diligently seeks to destroy us, and the people who we serve. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.4 Suffering builds endurance, perfects, and establishes us, so we do stand firm against the enemy. I need this in my daily walk. If I will not go to a foreign country where I might physically die for Jesus, then I must question my dying daily for Jesus, they are one and the same. Through this suffering as Christ did, I am perfected in my walk with him, I am learning to die to this flesh and live to him in this Spirit. I present my body a living sacrifice, this is my reasonable service, my duty.
From my experience the battle is waged greatly in the Church, this is ground zero, the enemy fights where the greatest gain is to be achieved. Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Jesus knew such would be a battle, thus he gave an old commandment as a new one, to love one another as He loves, not a worldly love. We glorify Christ through loving each other during this suffering, but this requires great humility, which He gives an example of. When we are humbly leading by example, others submit to this example, through humility the favor of God is on you, others see this. Leading is being diligent at caring for people, it is not of necessity, pressing or forceful, not for dishonest gain, nor does it lord over people, it is submissive to one another through humility, it is leading by example.