i
April, 1940
120
TJHE K IN G ’ S B U S I N E S S
fiwm i Galloway
Your Cares and God's Care I Peter 5
By ROY L. LAURIN Pasadena, California
A SINGLE sentence will sum up all that I have to say to you— , put your cares into God’s care. The purpose of putting: our cares into God’s care is not, as some might naively assume, to lessen our responsi bility. The aim is rather to increase our ability to live larger and more effective lives. Three things stand out in this chapter: 1. Spiritual Leadership (vs. 1-4). 2. Spiritual Attitudes (vs. 5-7). 3. Spiritual Adversaries (vs. 8-11). Let us consider their practical bear ing upon the Christian in his: I. Spiritual Leadership (vs. 1-4). Much has been said in this Epistle concerning believers’ behavior under trial. Now the instruction is concern ing church leaders’ behavior in office. And much needs to be said about this leadership, for it marks either the rise or fall of the church. The leadership mentioned here is de scribed under the term “elder,” and while it may refer specifically to that office, it applies generally to every kind of church leader, whether deacon or elder, minister or missionary. There are two general duties of church leaders, to be found in verse 2 : First, the duty to feed—“fted the flock of God,” and second, the duty to lead— “taking the oversight.” 1. Feeding. There is no greater obligation for a spiritual leader than to see that the flock is fed. This responsibility is far greater than that of dealing with fi nancial problems, and yet consider how much time is thus spent. Feeding the flock is more important than the me- [This is the closing article in a series on the First Epistle of Peter.]
chanics of church organization. It is the primary purpose of the church. If the flock is to be fed, with what shall it be fed? There is but one kind of food—the Word itself. The nourish- ment for “the flock of God” is notf what the preacher conceives in his own mind or finds in the current philoso phies, but it is this Book, broken up into digestible portions and given to the sheep for their sustenance and growth. 2. Leading. The flock must be led as well as fed, for sheep need these two forms of help more than anything else. The spiritual leader, consequently, must himself be spiritually fed and spiritually led. Spiritual leadership is much more than making proposals and issuing orders and advancing suggestions. It is exam ple—by first doing this thing that is to be required of the flock. The apostle next suggests how spiritual leadership should be carried out. First, the leader of the church is to serve with willingness—“not by con straint, but willingly” (v.2). The work of. the church is too often dqne under protest—and when not in open protest, then from a sense of duty. But here the thought is obligation and loyalty and hilarious service prompted by a joy that impels us to serve. Second, those who lead are to serve with unselfishness—“not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind” (v.2). Here "is service out of an unselfish attitude. It is not rendered for the thought of per sonal advantage, but for good instead of gain. Third,' Christian leaders are to be without arrogance—“neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to.the flock” (v.3). All you need to do to gcsatly endanger a carnal Christian is to elect him to a church
office. He swells with such pride that he looks like a balloon ready for the stratosphere. He gives officious orders. He acts in an arrogant overlordship. The most dangerous place for some is a church office, for if a man is not a Spirit-filled Christian, he will be en snared in pride and an overestimate of self-importance. If there is an incentive that obligates us to fidelity, faith, and faithfulness, it is the anticipation of the crowning of successful service. “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (v.4): Lord Beaverbrook said: "Rather choose to be an evangel ist than a Cabinet Minister or a millionaire. When I was a young man, I pitied my father for being a poor man and a humble preacher of the Word. Now that I am older, I envy him his life and his career.” Let us desire to render to Christ such humble service as is worthy of a “crown of glory that fadeth not away.” II. Spiritual Attitudes (vs. 5-7). Two attitudes are mentioned: first, an attitude toward man, and second, an attitude toward God. 1. Our Attitude Toward Man—HU MILITY (vs. 5, 6). Humility is nothing more nor less than a proper estimate of one’s self. It is the opposite of pride that arro gates one over others and takes a con descending and patronizing attitude to others. Augustine said of pride, “That which first overcomes man is the last to overcome.” i Humility is something to be acquired just as clothing is. In fact, it is con sidered here in terms of dressing. The command is, “Be clothed with humility.” And the expression literally means to [ Continued on Page 150]
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