Why Leaders after God's Heart Matter

Leaders matter because they have influence over people, impact their lives and can shape their future. Scripture has a high standard for leaders, from exemplary maturity (character) to competent service (charisma) to impartial administration and people management (conduct). Leaders will have a stricter judgement, especially the teachers, because of the great responsibility over people they have been entrusted with. In the midst of false shepherds and the modern CEO-type leaders, we need true shepherds after God's heart, faithful stewards of God's truth and people, and humble servants who seek the welfare of others for God's glory.

Introduction

When Jesus' disciples were arguing about who might be the greatest of them all and who might occupy the seats of power in the heavenly kingdom, Jesus rebuked them sharply and challenged them whether they were able to 'drink the cup' of crucifixion, the cup of His suffering (Mark 10:35-40). He spoke figuratively of the most brutal execution on behalf of humanity to provide forgiveness of sins through atonement. Jesus gave His life because of His love for humanity. He died so our sins could be forgiven (Ephesians 1:7). His Name is Yeshua (Hebrew: 'Yahweh saves'), because He saves His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). He humbled Himself to save us (Philippians 2:5-8). He laid down His life as Saviour in order to gather His people as Shepherd (1 Peter 2:24-25). He came to serve, not to be served (Mark 10:45). He gave the example we are to follow. New Testament leadership must, therefore, reflect the humble and sacrificial attitude of Christ and His servanthood-style.

During that argument among His disciples over greatness in the Kingdom, Jesus took a child for its humility to illustrate the important lesson that true greatness is found in humility and servanthood (Matthew 18:1-5; see Q5). The greatest shall be the servant of all. Jesus Himself demonstrated the true attitude of a leader by washing His disciples' feet, impressing on them the importance of servanthood in leadership (John 13). He said that even the Son of Man (a self-description Jesus used in view of Daniel's prophecy [Daniel 7]) came not to be served but to serve others and give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:43-45). Jesus was a leader according to God's heart. He revealed God in His love and servanthood for others. His disciples, and future apostles, were to be servant-leaders according to the example of Jesus, the Chief Shephered (1 Peter 5:1-4). He is the Son in whom God is well-pleased. The Son of God was also called the Son of David, a Messianic term that referred to the king of Israel, a man after God's heart. David had been a king after God's own heart and served God's people according to God's purpose (Acts 13:22, 36). These are the kind of leaders God is looking for today.

Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding. —Jeremiah 3:15 NASB

Jeremiah prophesied a time where God would raise up shepherds according to His own heart, who would feed God's people with knowledge and understanding (Jeremiah 3:15). Jeremiah lived in a time of sinful behaviour and corrupt leadership among God's people. The Temple service was out of place (Jeremiah 7) and shepherds would feed themselves instead of 'feeding' (caring for, teaching etc.) God's people (Jeremiah 23). Ministry and service had become a place of power over people and a position of self-enrichment instead of serving people and empowering them to prosper. This was all wrong. God's standards were different and His plan was to bring about change—through shepherds according to His own heart. Jeremiah addressed the abuses of his day in no uncertain terms, as did other Hebrew prophets. Both John the Baptist and Jesus stood in this tradition of the prophets to address such wrong attitudes and practices. Such voices, often unpopular in their day, are a light of truth in the midst of the darkness of deception We need such voices coming from hearts after God's heart. We need shepherds after God's heart, for only those who carry the heart of God can convey the heart of God to others. We need true shepherds; they matter!

Jesus showed who the true Shepherd was: the One who lays down His life for the sheep (John 10). He demonstrated the shepherd's heart: the one who goes after the one lost sheep and rejoices in its return (Matthew 18:13; Luke 15:7). He revealed a true shepherd's compassion by gathering and healing the 'sheep without a shepherd' (Matthew (9:35-36) and by raising up a new type of leader who would gather them and care for them (vv 37-38). These would be shepherds according to God's own heart. Despite the powerful healings performed by Jesus, the deeper need of the people was to be cared for by true shepherds. The church is lacking in shepherds after God's heart; the harvest depends on them. Those who are serious about bringing in a 'harvest,' should consider that the lack of workers has to do with a lack of shepherds who carry both the power and compassion of Christ. Peter emphasised the importance of servanthood in leadership of shepherds with Jesus as example (1 Peter 5:1-4). True shepherds won't throw stones at the lost sheep; judgmental religious fanatics do that. True shepherds will make people lay down their stones, show mercy to a repentant sinner and show the way for people to 'sin no more' without condemning them (John 8:1-11). That is what it means to be a light in the world (v 12). Jesus equipped leaders who would be servants, stewards and shepherds: meek servants in their fundamental attitude of humility in service to others, faithful stewards in their fundamental responsibility to God's truth, and genuine shepherds in their fundamental dedication to God's people.

1 Servants

Jesus came to serve, not to be served (Mark 10:45). The context of this fundamental attitude of servanthood and dedication to God's purpose of serving people was in contrast to the worldly rulers who lord it over people and use their positions of authority to rule over people (v 42). It should not be so among God's people. Instead, true leaders were to serve: 'whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant' (v 43) and those who want 'to be first among you must be the slave of all' (v 44). This is a completely different way of leadership than what they had known and were used to. Jesus turned the hierarchy of power on its head! He showed in His own example of servanthood that He 'did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many' (v 45). When He washed His disciple's feet—the work of servants—He made clear what the example and standard for leadership is: servanthood. He gave them an example to follow (John 13:4-17). God is looking for shepherds who are servants.

Both situations impressed on His followers what type of leaders they should be. In Mark, there was quarrel over greatness, as two of the twelve disciples asked to sit at Jesus' right and left hand of power in the kingdom of Heaven (Mark 10:35-37). The others, after hearing of this, were indignant (v 41). We may assume from this, that James and John had asked in private. Jesus gathered all of them and explained what truly matters in God's kingdom: humility and servanthood. In private He had already told John and James that it was not up to Him to assign such positions of power, yet it was not up to them to ask for it either. They did not even understand what they were asking (v 38). The 'cup' was symbolic of His imminent crucifixion—death on the cross as ransom (the price paid for freedom of sin). They thought they were able to 'drink it'—go through that brutal suffering—yet, when they came to arrest Jesus, all of them fled.

In John's account of the feet washing, the context places emphasis on the love of Christ in the midst of betrayal (John 13:1-2). He trusted God's plan and power and took the role of a servant (v 4). Paul powerfully illustared how Jesus humbled Himself, first in the incarnation and then in the crucifixion (Philippians 2:6-8). The eternal Son of God, the creative Logos, the second Person of the divine Trinity, left Heaven and became a Man to save humanity by His death and resurrection. In His incarnation He was given the prophetic name 'Emmanuel' as a sign of 'God with us.' God has not given up on humanity, but came right into the darkness of sin with the light of salvation. Jesus came to serve even in His death for the sins of humanity. His given name 'Jesus' is the Hebrew 'Yeshua,' which means, 'Yahweh saves' (Matthew 1:21-23). He came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15); He died for the sins of the ungodly (1 Corinthians 15:3; Romans 5:6). This is the love of God (Romans 5:8; John 3:16).

Jesus had the attitude of a servant in everything He did. He humbled Himself in His incarnation, and even more so in His crucifixion. This is the attitude of servanthood that should be our approach to all our relationships and our service unto others (Philippians 2:5). God's people should be considerate and united in the love of Christ and do nothing from selfish motives or hidden agendas of conceit (vv 2-3). The humility of Christ in servanthood is the way we look out for one another's interest (vv 4). He came to lay down His life, and that is why God exalted Him and gave Him the Name above all other names (vv 9-11). The way up, is the way down; the leader must serve; the first is slave to all. This is the biblical way we are to follow. The worldly way is to seek power and position and then rule people who serve us. The biblical way is to serve others and empower God's people for His glory and their benefit. That doesn't mean that we allow people to exploit us or use us; we must take a stand against such abuse. But we must retain a heart to serve. We cannot give what is precious to those who don't value it (see Matthew 7:5).

Peter, in view of Christ's suffering, admonished the leaders to be shepherds to God's people by caring for them and watching over them (1 Peter 5:1-2). The right approach is not one of control but exemplary servanthood, not by compulsion but voluntary service, and not for selfish financial gain but selfless care (vv 2-3). True leaders will never ask others to carry burdens they themselves won't carry; that is a sign of false leaders (Matthew 23). True leaders will never demand things from people they have not first served. True leaders carry others' burdens in the love of Christ (Galatians 6:2). The principle is well-known: leading by example; practice what you preach; you can only expect of others what you do yourself. Jesus is our role-model; we are to follow His example. We are called to serve, to reflect Christ's nature and to glorify God by our service unto others. Christ is the Chief Shepherd who will reward those who serve His people (v 4).

The key to leadership is humility. The attitude of servanthood is the only way to keep us from the deception and destruction of pride. Power and money are among the greatest—and worst—temptations to pollute and corrupt good people and then cause their downfall. As an apostle of Christ, Paul served with humility and didn't preach his own message; he proclaimed what Christ sent him to proclaim, that which is according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-10). He preached Christ, not himself; and as a faithful steward of the Gospel, he was a bond-servant unto God's people (2 Corinthians 4:5). Paul didn't seek his own glory or make a name for himself; he sought to glorify God through his ministry. Paul knew his place as servant of God. He, like others, were miniosters through whom people believed the Gospel, yet it was God who gave the increase (1 Corinthians 3:5-7). True leaders know they are but servants, and that poiting to God is the vital aspect of ministry. The church is His people, His flock; the church is His buuilding and fied, firgurativenly speaking (v 9). God's ministers are to serve according to the garce God gave to each one (v 10) and proclaim Christ as the irreplaceable foundation of the church (v 11).

God is seeking shepherds after His own heart, who will be humble in service and feed His people with knowledge and understanding. We are to feed others, not ourselves. We are to be servants, not rulers. We are to make others rich, and not enrich ourselves at their expense. It was said that 'if servanthood is below you, leadership is beyond you.' Some people want positions of power, yet refuse to take the place of servanthood, but only with the attitude of a servant will we be honourable before God and responsible towards others. We should all serve in such a way that one day we will hear God say to us, 'Well done, you good and faithful servant' (not, 'you rich, fat and famous pastor'). We are to serve God in such a way that people glorify Him (Matthew 5:16). To be a servant-leader according to God's heart matters in that we are to serve God's people according to God's will. As genuine servants with hearts of humility and an attitude to serve, we will also be faithful stewards of God's truth and people.

2 Stewards

Paul saw himself as a steward of God's mysteries (1 Corinthians 4:1-2), the revealer of secrets once hidden but now made known to all in the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 16:25-27; Ephesians 3:3-5; see Q1). He was entruted with the gospel that Christ came to save sinners (2 Timothy 1:12-15). As a steward, he was to be faithful and trustworthy (1 Corinthians 4:2; 2 Timothy 1:12). Paul as an apostle (messenger) in his proclamation of reconciliation with God through the Gospel of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18-21), was an ambassador for Christ (v 20). Ambassadors of nation states or organisations represent whoever sends them. They are stewards of a message given to them and a mission entrusted to them. They don't speak and act in their own authority, but communicate and do what they have been commissioned to say and accomplish.

Paul was commissioned by Christ as a 'chosen instrument' to bear Christ's name (Acts 9:15). He was a minister of and witness to Christ to proclaim the gospel that breaks spiritual blindness and brings salvatoion to the world (26:16-18). Paul was faithful in his ministry unto Christ, serving His Lord in humility, sincerity and with a good conscience, not considering his life dear to himself but laying it down in service of preaching repentance and faith in Christ (Acts 20:17-24). True leaders know they are but stewards of the church Jesus died to redeem. The church belongs to God, not to man. Paul was entrusted with much and didn't fail the One who called him. He pursued the call of God wholeheartedly (Philippians 3:12-14). He had fought the good fight of faith, finished his race, kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7-8). He was a true servant and faithful steward of what God entrusted to him—the truth of God and the people of God.

A steward is responsible for what belongs to another. A steward must be found faithful. Jesus made clear that those who can't be faithful over little, won't be faithful over much (Luke 16:10-11), yet those who are faithful in stewardship of what belongs to others, can be trusted (v 12). We do not serve money/wealth, but God who is Provider (v 13). Purity of motive in all matters is important, especially regarding money because of its deceptive power to corrupt even the best of people. Only the pure in heart shall see God (Matthew 5:8). We are to guard our hearts diligently as all issues of life flow from it (Proverbs 4:23). Purity regarding money is one of the most important issues. Money can pollute us; greed can corrupt us. We are to be free from the love of money and live in contentment (Hebrews 13:5; 1 Timothy 6:6-10). We must guard ourselves against greed (Luke 12:15) by trusting God and seeking His kingdom as our highest priority (vv 22-31)—God provides generously!

What is true in terms of money, is true of spiritual riches. Divine wisdom is more precious than gold, silver or precious stones (Psalm 19:7-11; Proverbs 3:13-18; 8:19); His truth is to be valued and guarded (Proverbs 23:23). This is so because it has eternal value, but also guides us in building our 'house' (i.e., life) properly (24:3-4). In terms of God's truth, we are to be faithful in our transmission of it. We can be creative in the way we communicate the message of the Gospel, but we must be faithful regarding the content of the Gospel. A faithful steward will pass on the message faithfully and accurately (2 Timothy 2:2, 15). We are not called to preach our own ideas, but the truth of God revealed in Scripture. We are to preach Christ, not ourselves (2 Corinthians 4:5). Paul carried the spiritual treasure entrusted to him in an 'earthen' vessel (human body and mind) to serve God according to the surpassing greatness of His power (v 7). He found his adequacy in God as a servant of the New Covenant empowered by God's Spirit (3:4-6). The shepherds after God's heart are those who convey the truth of God with the heart of God. Knowledge and understanding are shared in speaking the truth in love in a mature and healthy way that makes people grow in maturity, unity and functionality (Ephesians 4:11-16).

As good and faithful stewards, we are to serve others with what God entrusted to us (1 Peter 4:10) in order to glorify Him who gave us the gifts to serve others (v 11). Every good gift comes from the Father of light (James 1:17). Our gift to God is to use His gifts given to us according to His will and for His glory. We are servants unto Him and stewards of what He entrusted to us. This attitude of humility and servanthood will keep us from the temptations of pride and abuses of power. True shepherds teach the 'knowledge and understanding' of God according to His heart. It is not a religious doctrine that condemns people; it is the truth that sets them free. To be a steward-leader according to God's heart matters so that we serve God's people with the message and the gifts God has given us for them. As faithful stewards we will also be genuine shepherds of God's truth and people. We are to be shepherds who serve the flock and care for them and faithfully steward what God entrusted to us.

3 Shepherds

Humble servants and faithful stewards will also be good shepherds with pure motives to serve and guide, empower and protect. Paul admonished the leaders to protect the flock from wolves who seek to destroy what is most precious to the One who died to redeem His church (Acts 20:28-31). The wolves in sheep clothing are false prophets who seek to steal, kill and destroy (Matthew 7:15; John 10:10a). True shepherds lay down their lives for the sheep, protecting them—at great cost if necessary. Paul endured all things for the sake of God's people (2 Timothy 2:8-10). Jesus contrasted true shepherds with hirelings who don't really care about the sheep (John 10). He Himself laid down His life as the Good Shepherd as an expression of true love. David, as shepherd boy in his youth, would protect his father's sheep at great risk, yet it was that attitude that made him zealous to protect God's people. It qualified him to be king over Israel. When we dedicate our lives to serve and are faithful to steward what was entrusted to us, we can become shepherds according to God's heart.

The issue of true and false shepherds was an issue for the Hebrew prophets who pointed out the abuses of power. The contrast was between true shepherds who lay down their lives in service for others and false shepherds who use God's people for self-enrichment (Ezekiel 34; Jeremiah 23). This is similar to the shepherds vs. hireling contrast of Jesus in John 10. Leaders are to be shepherds according to God's heart, humbly serving His people, faithfully stewarding what was entrusted to them, and caring for God's people with love and compassion. The lack of workers in the harvest is the lack of shepherds with the compassion of Christ. We need both power and love, just as Jesus the Chief Shepherd had demonstrated (Matthew 9:35-38). True shepherds care and lay down their lives for others; they stand and fight if they have to. Hierlings and false shepherds are in it for themselves, seeking to enrich themselves, and flee when trouble arises because they lack the heart of a shepherd. We need shepherds according to God's heart—they matter!

Leaders, especially teachers, have a stricter judgment (James 3:1), because they hold the key of knowledge. The Gospel was first given to the apostles and eye-witnesses of Christ, yet it wasn't exclusively entrusted to the leaders of the Church. It was given, once and for all delivered, to the saints (Jude 3), that is, all the believers. Leaders don't have a monopoly on doctrine in order to control the flock. True leaders share the truth of Christ that sets people free (John 8:31-36). We are all called to share the Gospel and do so with the heart of a shepherd. We are all called to do the works of ministry to which the five-fold ministers equip us (Ephesians 4:11-12). Without the growth to maturity into the image and fullness of Christ and unity with others, we will never be able to function as a proper body (vv 13-16). Leaders must carry the heart of God so that they will reflect Christ and point people to Him, the Head of the church.

True leaders reveal Christ to people and feed them with knowledge and understanding of who God is based on Scripture. They genuinly care for people first before they teach them. They don't try to impress them with 'knowledge'; they seek to serve them with understanding. Knowledge with an arrogant heart puffs up; true love with a humble heart edifies (1 Corinthians 8:1). It is true, 'people don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care.' Titles and positions may command respect, but true authority in the lives of people comes from our genuine care for them. People trust true shepherds because they care and lay down their lives for them. They won't impose their positional authority on anyone; they serve to lift others up. Obedience from the believers is first and foremost to God and His Word, not to leaders. True leaders will encourage believers to obey God; they won't demand obedience to them as persons. We are called to equip others to live by principle, not to follow personalities. There should be a harmony between leaders and believers under the authority of God for the benefit of the people.

Cult leaders will draw people after themselves, abuse them and enrich themselves in the process. These are false shepherds. They will intimidate you to force you into submission. The people exist for their sakes. Rather than them serving the people, they exploit them. They would twist Scripture to suit their hidden agendas. They teach false doctrine that sometimes appears biblical, but is not. They do evil with evil intent at the expense of the people they claim to care for. That is toxic leadership; stay away from it! Such spiritually abusive environments are dangerous; you have not only no obligation to stay there (and suffer), you must leave, both for your own sake, and also for others who would not have the courage to set out unless they saw your example. Be brave to stick with the truth of Scripture even if you are being ostracised and isolated for a while. You will eventually find your people and a church where you belong, an environment that is healthy and good for you. One of the early church fathers noticed how there are many wolves in the church and many sheep outside of it. It shouldn't be that way, but it sometimes is. The devil will seek to destroy the church from the inside (like he tried with Judas among Jesus' disciples/apostles). We must be alert spiritually and not submit to spiritual abuse. We must remain faithful to what is biblically sound and spiritually healthy.

The CEO-type leader is interested in professional church services, often with a fancy TED talk and a little contemporary music to make people feel good. What counts is attendance and income. They mainly count people and money, whereas true shepherds do what counts. CEO-type leaders do things that serve their church and brand (often relying heavily on marketing), but won't serve others selflessly outside that framework. If something is not part of their agenda, they will not give their time and energy to it; sometimes they are even willing to lose good people over it. They compromise principle for popularity. What people think is more important than biblical principles of ministry. What matters to them is how things look, often at the expense of the true condition of the flock. But true shepherds have to know the state of their flock (Proverbs 27:23); how much more so the true shepherds in the church. The primary concern of the CEO-type leader is to get people to church, but shepherds according to God's heart will go beyond the four walls of the church and seek the lost sheep. Their primary focus is the well-being of the people. True shepherds have experienced the care of the Good Shepherd (Psalm 23) and share it with others. They can reveal the true Shepherds because they have experienced Him. They won't try to force people into a religious system or use them to fill their meetings, but rather feed them with the knowledge and understanding of who Christ is so that people can know Him, grow into Him and reflect the life of Christ in their walk with Him (Philippians 3:10-11; 1 John 2:6). The church needs true shepherds who serve others and support them in God's purpose for their lives.

Conclusion: Leaders according to God's Heart

True shepherds according to God's heart lay down their lives for God's people and glorify God with the gifts they were given and serve the people entrusted to them. Their character will reflect the heart of God; their charisma is used in service to empower others, not to enrich themselves; their conduct will reveal the nature of Christ and point people to Him. They are true servants who serve others; they are faithful stewards to share what was entrusted to them; and they are genuine shepherds who care for and feed God's people. Shepherds according to God's heart will associate with the lowly and humble; they are not pompous to pursue power, wealth and status, but seek to bring healing to the broken-hearted and be a light in dark places. Shepherds according God's heart will seek out the lost sheep and be moved with compassion over the sheep without shepherds. The will fill the need of others, and even be the person they needed when they were in such a condition. Shepherds according to God's heart will lay down their lives to lift others up.

Their service is for the glory of God, not to please man (Galatians 1:10). Such leaders matter as the church can be hijacked by false leaders and deceitful imposters. We are to serve God's people according to His Word and share the truth of Scripture that sets people free and empowers them for ministry (2 Timothy 3:13-17). Leaders according to God's heart matter because they are the ones who lead the true Church in true doctrine and the divine purpose of God's will. Leaders according to God's heart matter as they reveal the true nature of God and point people to Christ, the Saviour. People will be empowered to be faithful to Him, to biblical doctrine and to God's plans for their lives. Believers will be able to discern true from false by the Christ-like example of shepherds according to God's heart. True shepherds will never use people for their own agenda; they will use their gifts to empower people for God's purpose!

True leaders won't control people; they serve and empower them. They point to God, not bind people to themselves. You have no obligation to remain under a destructive influence of controlling leaders. Remove yourself from a toxic environment and seek to be among God's genuine people. God wants you to live in the glorious freedom of the children of God. The goal of true leadership is maturity in Christ, not dependence on man. Good leaders will seek the best for you, not for them. They will not use the church for themselves, they will use their gifts to edify and equip the people of God. Leaders according to God's heart will feed and guide God's people in the ways of God. They lead by example—they 'know the way, go the way, and show the way,' in John Maxwell's words. Like Ezra, they study, apply and then teach others the Word of God (Ezra 7:10). The main goal of the shepherd is the well-being of the sheep, by feeding them with biblical knowledge and sound doctrine, and reflect the heart of God in doing so. True leaders are to empower God's people to rise in His strength and serve others and the world around them in the power of God to reveal God's heart and truth. Leaders according to God's heart matter.