"He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep."1
Contrast the two styles of leadership we see here; one "flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep" and the other, "the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." What is a true sign of one that is a hireling? John writes, "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death."6 Jesus said, the people were like lost sheep without good shepherds who cared for them. A good shepherd leads them into green pastors and beside still waters, he would lay down his life for the sheep. Jesus said we will know by their fruit, those who lay a foundation on the Rock, the words of Christ, these receive little children, building them up in faith, but the hireling cares not for the sheep, he would throw them to the wolves.
“Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”7
I had this friend, at least I thought so once, he isn't really my friend, he would not stand with me nor would he stand for the truth. I had come to him for help, this leader had brought a false accusation against me, he knew everything, but did nothing, he is as guilty if not more so than others, because he knew the truth. One night he invited me over to watch this sermon about sharks in the water. He suggested that I leave the organization, maybe this was his way of saying he would not help. He used the analogy of others being like sharks in the water that had sensed blood, but his own analogy condemns him, as he became as the hireling Jesus spoke of. The wolf is attacking the little lamb and what does the hireling do, he flees. But he didn't just flee, nor did he just watch the wolves attack, no, he joined in on the attack.
"He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep."1
Some justify themselves in teachings of authority that say obedience to authority sacrifices truth and allows for wrong to be overlooked. Such teachings make it easy for hirelings to exist. But the words of Christ say the good shepherd would lay down his life for the little lamb, not flee when the wolves come. It is not about protecting authority, but the little lambs. If the Church loves Him, the Church would love truth, and Jesus says the first must become last, not like the leadership of the world that lords over the people, but one that is a servant of all, that receives the little children in faith, concerned as to not to cause him to stumble. If leaders truly love Christ, then the words of Christ they would do, like what they do to the least of these they do unto Him. God sees all, you can't hide away such things in teachings of men. So it is the truth that exposes lies, it is the light that exposes darkness. The nature of truth being that of light placed upon a lamp-stand. Those who love truth, come to the light, those who cover truth, hide in darkness.
"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”4
Jesus spoke this of the Pharisees. God hates these things, a lying tongue, one that would be quick to do harm, one that would falsely accuse a brother... we see why such things are an abomination to Him, because these things are from the devil, the father of lies. As those led away by riches, theirs will not be a happy ending, great woes Jesus gave to those who would cause His little children to stumble. God has great mercy for the transparent sinner, but Jesus said of these leaders, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains."11 Those that seek the glory of men care not for the sheep, these will not stand for truth. The hireling says protect me at all cost, throwing the little lamb to the wolf, but the good shepherd cares for the sheep, he lays down his life for them. The true leaders have laid down their life for Jesus, seen best in that they love the sheep and would lay down their lives for them.
Come To The Table
“Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”7
I had this friend, at least I thought so once, he isn't really my friend, he would not stand with me nor would he stand for the truth. I had come to him for help, this leader had brought a false accusation against me, he knew everything, but did nothing, he is as guilty if not more so than others, because he knew the truth. One night he invited me over to watch this sermon about sharks in the water. He suggested that I leave the organization, maybe this was his way of saying he would not help. He used the analogy of others being like sharks in the water that had sensed blood, but his own analogy condemns him, as he became as the hireling Jesus spoke of. The wolf is attacking the little lamb and what does the hireling do, he flees. But he didn't just flee, nor did he just watch the wolves attack, no, he joined in on the attack.
"He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep."1
Some justify themselves in teachings of authority that say obedience to authority sacrifices truth and allows for wrong to be overlooked. Such teachings make it easy for hirelings to exist. But the words of Christ say the good shepherd would lay down his life for the little lamb, not flee when the wolves come. It is not about protecting authority, but the little lambs. If the Church loves Him, the Church would love truth, and Jesus says the first must become last, not like the leadership of the world that lords over the people, but one that is a servant of all, that receives the little children in faith, concerned as to not to cause him to stumble. If leaders truly love Christ, then the words of Christ they would do, like what they do to the least of these they do unto Him. God sees all, you can't hide away such things in teachings of men. So it is the truth that exposes lies, it is the light that exposes darkness. The nature of truth being that of light placed upon a lamp-stand. Those who love truth, come to the light, those who cover truth, hide in darkness.
"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”4
What I have experienced is not a Church that loves, though it says it is sacrificing for Jesus to reach the lost. And by the very act of sacrificing love it condemns itself as hirelings. Jesus said the world will know you by your love for the sheep, not just the one lost, but also your brother who has been found. Why would a hireling not protect the little lamb from wolves? because he loves himself more than he loves God's lambs. Though he claims to love Jesus by saying he is looking for lost sheep, he is distinguished as a hireling by his lack of love for those of the ninety nine. Jesus said of the Pharisee the love of God did not abide in their hearts. Why do they do it, pretend to love God? Jesus said they love the glory of men, they stand on the street corners praying for people to see, they fast with gloomy faces so people will know, they tithe and give not for the glory of God, but for man.
"Many of the leaders believed in Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue. For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God."8
"Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock."8
"How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?"9
Those who seek the glory of men, put pleasing men above God, thus they serve the organization not the people. The young man invites his friend to church but says to him, don't bring your baggage to my church. A man serves his church regularly but his neighbor who asks him for a ride to church he quickly makes excuses. The neighbor he doesn't love but he serves the organization, why? does not God see? do they seek the glory of men above God, to be seen by men? It is an amazing thing why these people do what they do, really if you want the glory of men, if you want fame and fortune, go be in the world. Jesus gives us insight of why these people do what they do.
"For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God."8
If they served God they would know of the importance of protecting the little lamb from wolves, of the principle of the first becoming last. In the American Church there is much incentive for hirelings, much fame and fortune to be had. Seen in doctrines that teach authority that lords, and that portrays God as one who thunders from a mountain using fear, shame, guilt... and one that teaches tithing and living off the tithing but ignores the no inheritance in the land part. These put emphasis on earthly blessings to justify lavish lifestyles, as blessings from God, and tell others if you tithe and give, you too will be blessed.
"For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God."8
If they served God they would know of the importance of protecting the little lamb from wolves, of the principle of the first becoming last. In the American Church there is much incentive for hirelings, much fame and fortune to be had. Seen in doctrines that teach authority that lords, and that portrays God as one who thunders from a mountain using fear, shame, guilt... and one that teaches tithing and living off the tithing but ignores the no inheritance in the land part. These put emphasis on earthly blessings to justify lavish lifestyles, as blessings from God, and tell others if you tithe and give, you too will be blessed.
"Indeed, a root of all kinds of evil is the love of money, which some going after, have been seduced away from the faith and they have been pierced with many sorrows."6
A servant profession is considered to be one that serves the people, so its purposely not about money. Lets look at a few of these. A motto of a police officer is "to serve and protect." A Police Patrol Officer makes a median annual salary of $53,229.3 A firefighter is another profession that is considered servants of the people. The median annual Fire Fighter salary is $44,903.4 A teacher is another servant profession and the median annual Elementary School Teacher salary is $55,959. Jesus said leaders in His kingdom are servants of all, so do you think this should be reflective in their salary? The median annual Pastor salary is $92,538.1 It is a median, which is a good thing because the average would be skewed by the many millionaire pastors.5 If the Church adopts the old covenant principles of tithing and "priests" living off the tithing then it can not ignore the "no inheritance in the land" part. Eliminate the personal gain, making it again a profession of service, would not this reduce the hirelings?
A servant profession is considered to be one that serves the people, so its purposely not about money. Lets look at a few of these. A motto of a police officer is "to serve and protect." A Police Patrol Officer makes a median annual salary of $53,229.3 A firefighter is another profession that is considered servants of the people. The median annual Fire Fighter salary is $44,903.4 A teacher is another servant profession and the median annual Elementary School Teacher salary is $55,959. Jesus said leaders in His kingdom are servants of all, so do you think this should be reflective in their salary? The median annual Pastor salary is $92,538.1 It is a median, which is a good thing because the average would be skewed by the many millionaire pastors.5 If the Church adopts the old covenant principles of tithing and "priests" living off the tithing then it can not ignore the "no inheritance in the land" part. Eliminate the personal gain, making it again a profession of service, would not this reduce the hirelings?
Paul writes to be alert for these, as Jesus warned of these false teachers, these "speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them." How do they draw people away? Paul writes, "I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”11 Ministering is serving, thus Paul ministered not only through spiritual food but also in earthly food, by bearing his own load, not living off the people. He writes elsewhere this taking money from the people is a cause for stumbling to some. I believe this is true today, many think the Church only wants their money. Hirelings do it for personal gain.
"But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?"6
Definitely what I have seen in the church is a one side relationship, you give, serve, but when you need help, everyone flees. Paul equates ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’ to helping the weak brother. John asks how does the love of God abide in us if we see his physical need and turn our hearts from him? It is a strange thing in the American Church, it gives millions to strangers while at the same time it turns its heart from the brother in need. Why? I think it has much to do with the glory of men. Like the Pharisee who do things for people to see. Look at us, how good we are, we help widows and orphans... Jesus said these have received their reward, and if you want to seek God's glory do not let the left hand know what the right hand is doing when you give.
This person wrote a story, though it was suppose to be a testimony about me. When people said something about it to me, then I did not know how to feel. But now I know why I felt this way, it was not really about me but about him and promotion of the organization. Hirelings put traditions of men above the truth. Another time I had put out this bird feeder and had identified these Chickadees. One day he came over and I mentioned this to him but he corrected me, that's a Nuthatch. This was very much analogous to our discussions about the Bible. So I tested him, why do you think this? he could not say. So I asked are you 100% certain, he said confidently yes. The next day I got out the book and identified the bird again, and while the birds were very similar it was a Chickadee, distinguished by is sound, and how it opens a sun flower seed holding it. Of course that he fled when the wolves came should not be surprising. The hireling looks much like the good Shepherd, the Bible helps us to know the truth.
"By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers."8
Those who will not stand for truth will not stand for Jesus, nor will they stand with their brothers when the wolves come. Matthew writes many of the leaders believed in Jesus, but they would not stand, we see very little of them in the early Church. Paul was an exception. He had been a Pharisee and understood the cost to follow Christ adding to believing, the confession of the mouth unto salvation. Jesus said, "therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven."9 If they really truly were of the Father, they would believe Moses and would believe Jesus and come to Him, the truth. It is the principle of light and truth, those of the light come to light, those in darkness hide. We see in the parable of the wicked vine-dressers that not only did they seek to kill the Son, but they sought the inheritance for themselves. Now, how could they think such a thing? that they could steal the kingdom? Jesus said they were doing the will of their father.
"You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies."10
Jesus spoke this of the Pharisees. God hates these things, a lying tongue, one that would be quick to do harm, one that would falsely accuse a brother... we see why such things are an abomination to Him, because these things are from the devil, the father of lies. As those led away by riches, theirs will not be a happy ending, great woes Jesus gave to those who would cause His little children to stumble. God has great mercy for the transparent sinner, but Jesus said of these leaders, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains."11 Those that seek the glory of men care not for the sheep, these will not stand for truth. The hireling says protect me at all cost, throwing the little lamb to the wolf, but the good shepherd cares for the sheep, he lays down his life for them. The true leaders have laid down their life for Jesus, seen best in that they love the sheep and would lay down their lives for them.
Come To The Table