by THE GOOD SHEPHERD
In the biblical sense, a good shepherd is the one who listens, seeks counsel, prays and takes good care of the sheep. In a way, all human beings created by God are called to be good shepherds. Not just adults with responsibility, but anyone with a vocation in life is called to be a shepherd. For some. it is in a higher degree than others but the question for everyone should be: What kind of shepherd are you; a good or a bad one?
Zedekiah the king of Jerusalem was a bad shepherd. He listened to wrong advice and he rebelled against the King of Babylon, thus ensuring the ruin of his people. Nebuchadnezzar sent his army against him and reduced him to ruins. It was at this time that Jeremiah the prophet was preaching and he reminded the leaders of his time who were corrupt and incapable of leading the people that they should not be like Zedekiah; like shepherds who lead their flocks to destruction. “Woe to you says the Lord…you have scattered my flock…and you have not attended to them. Behold I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord” (Read Jer. 23:1-6).
It is very easy to be a bad shepherd when you listen to wrong advice. When you don’t seek the counsel of those wiser than you or when you think you know it all. No human being is perfect and that’s why they say pencils have erasers so that we can correct our mistakes and move on. The problem is that most people (especially those who attain higher position in life) neither pray nor listen to advice. What did Jesus do when he sent out his disciples and they came back with the news that they had done well? He said to them: “Come away to some lonely place and rest” (Read Mark 6:30-34). That’s what true leaders do. When they get feedback, they come away to some lonely place and pray about it, reflect upon it, before they act.
Sometimes people get so busy in life that they forget to reflect, seek advice, listen to others and do things that will positively benefit or effect the lives of the people they are responsible for. That’s not shepherding. While we seek to shield ourselves from bad shepherds and vouch to be better shepherds ourselves to others, let us realize that it is the Lord Himself that’s our ultimate Shepherd and will always lead us to greener pastures.
Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Peter Obele Abue PhD, and does not represent TheLumineNews, its agent or the organization the author works for.
