Feed the Flock

Peter said in 1 Peter 5:2 Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;

The KJV says, "Feed the flock of God that is among you." His encouragement to the elders was that even with the tough times that were ahead for the church, they were to be faithful to feed the flock that God had entrusted to them. After all, Peter was merely passing on the last words of council that he had received from the Lord himself when he said to him in three times in John 21:15-17 to feed the sheep. That is the primary responsibility of the elder in the church (Acts 6:1-7).

I believe that far too many elders get sidetracked with other things, i.e. counseling, church administration, etc… These can be snares of the enemy if they are placed on par to or over the primary responsibility of the elder which is to feed the flock of God that the Lord has entrusted Him with.

Notice that Peter also says, "But eager to serve": This literally means "Do your job!" In the original it says, "Discharge your duties." Too many pastors are lazy and do not faithfully feed the flock. May that never be said of you or me.