READ: 1 Peter 5:1-4
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, GOVERNMENTS, diversities of tongues.
1 Corinthians 12:28
A great privilege is bestowed upon you when you take up the job of a shepherd. Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd and shepherds govern the church of God. If you accept to be a shepherd, you are actually accepting to be a part of the government of the church.
Even if you are not a part of the government of your country, you are privileged to be a part of the government of the church! The privilege of being a shepherd is that you are offered an invitation to be a part of a government.
Shepherding is an opportunity to use the gift of governments. The word “government” is translated from the Greek word, kubernesis, which means a steering, pilotage, or guiding. This gift of governments is exactly the same thing as the gift of being a shepherd or pastor. The shepherd is to use the gift of governments to guide the sheep to “good places” (green pastures – Psalm 23:2).
Many people desire to be in places of authority and to have the job and the privilege of being in the government of a country. After each election people are heartbroken and disappointed because they did not win. Being part of a government is truly a privileged job.
However, there are bad governments everywhere. The level of poverty, war, and instability that exist in many countries reveals the lack of good governments. When someone does not have the ability to govern in the natural, the whole nation is thrown into chaos. We need to soberly reflect on the implications of leading people.
When God invites you to be a shepherd, He is inviting you to be at the very top of society. God is giving you the privilege of being a part of the government of His church.