Shepherding- a good work

Today we will start considering some of the qualities that the Lord has laid out for men who would serve as elders in the local church, and talk about how our actions and attitudes as wives can affect our husband’s effectiveness in those areas.  

Let’s read together 1 Timothy 3:1-7. 

This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of an overseer, he desires a good work.  An overseer, then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.  Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 

1 Timothy 3:1.  

If a man desires the position of an overseer, he desires a good work. 

The word “good” here means valuable.  Shepherding the Lord’s people is a very valuable work.  If something is valuable, there’s a cost involved.  The more valuable something is, the greater the cost.  The work of shepherding will not just cost your husband something, it will cost you as well.  

There is a cost in terms of time- not just your personal time, but giving up time with your husband when he has meetings, time when he is away from the family and you are dealing with the children by yourself.  

There is a cost in terms of emotional energy- praying for the believers, counseling those who are struggling spiritually, weeping over those who have gone astray.  

There can be a financial cost- opening your home to people, helping those who are in need.  

If you go into this work with any other motive than doing it for the Lord Himself because He has called you to do it, it is not worth it.  But if this is the ministry that God has given you and your husband, then all of these things can be offered up as a sweet sacrifice to Him.  

Shepherding is the heart of God, and He is looking for men and women after His own heart to carry out this work.  The Good Shepherd loves His sheep.  He laid down His life for them, and He calls us to do the same.