1 Peter 5:2-3 “Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight . . . not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.”
The directive Peter gives in the passage above, while meant for pastors, can be applied to anyone who is in a position of leading people, whether that be a parent, a supervisor in a workplace, or a political leader of some type. In every case, the oversight that that person practices should not be heavy-handed and forceful. It should not be by oppression, browbeating, and intimidation. No, it is to be, above all, leadership by example, and that example should be that which is laid out for us in the Word of God.
The Bible is filled with such exhortations. For example, in what has come to be known as “the golden rule,” Jesus made this succinct yet all-encompassing statement that He, incredibly, said summed up the teaching of the entire Bible: “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12). In a word to masters regarding their slaves (or in today’s world, to supervisors regarding those who work for them), Paul tells them to stop their threatening and to remember “that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him” (Ephesians 6:9). Then to fathers, Paul says this: “do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). But how often do we fathers do otherwise, ordering our children to, in essence, “do what I say, not what I do.” It’s such an easy trap to fall into.
In all of these examples we have the natural way of man contrasted with the supernatural way that Jesus demonstrated to us. Here we had the true King of kings and Lord of lords living in our world and walking among us. So, how did He behave toward us? How did He lead those who followed Him, this One Who could have easily forced anyone to do what He said? It was primarily by example, by actions that spoke even louder than His incomparable words. He humbled Himself. He served those around Him. He modeled the love of God that was the very essence of His nature. And He didn’t force His followers to do what He commanded them, even though what He told them was always for their own eternal good. Rather, He led them, He urged them, He showed them, and He prayed for them. He was never one to be domineering over them. He was the most wonderful example of a godly life that was ever lived. And so Paul, who was transformed by Him, would say to those whom HE discipled “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
So, could you say that to those you lead? Is that your example? For any of us who call ourselves Christians, it is this that should be the desire of our heart. May God help us to lead any whom God has placed in such a position in our lives by the example that Christ has set down for us. May God help us to make this one of the primary aspirations of our life.
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