Overview
Christian leaders are examples in motive: they lead not because they are forced, not for what they can gain from the role, and not because they hold a position of authority, but willingly, eagerly, and in order to lead others to Christ. Rico Magnelli works through 1 Peter 5, where Peter tells elders to feed the flock of God not by constraint but willingly, not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind, and not as lords over God’s heritage but as ensamples to the flock. A leader who is never forced never forces others, and that free-will environment is what the flock reads and follows.
Transcript
The Right Motive for a Christian Leader
Please turn to 1 Peter chapter 5. Leaders are examples in motive, and Christian leaders are examples of the right motive, and they’re not to be motivated by force. In other words, no one makes us do what we do, and therefore we do not force others either, but rather we freely take on the role. A leader is not motivated by improper personal gain or advantage. There’s appropriate benefit, but I’m talking about improper personal gain or advantage from the role of being a leader, but a good leader will demonstrate eagerness to carry out that role. A leader is not motivated by a position of authority, but motivated to lead others to Christ through example. An example of motive is both rewarding in this life and certainly in the future, and we’re going to see this in 1 Peter chapter 5.
Peter Wrote From Firsthand Knowledge of Jesus Christ
In 1 Peter chapter 5, Peter was an individual, an apostle, one of the original twelve, that spent a lot of time with Jesus Christ, and when I read through these pages, I think about that, that he actually saw Jesus Christ. He ate with him. He laughed with him. He walked with him. They worked side by side on things. How interesting that he would have the privilege to record this now for Christian posterity.
What an Elder Is in 1 Peter 5:1
And in chapter 5 verse 1, it says, The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder. An elder is someone that carries that wisdom and that dignity. It’s not always age. Certainly, those things can come with age, but it’s not just always age. It’s primarily that wisdom and dignity of how they carry themselves spiritually.
The Sufferings and the Glory Are One Theme in Peter
And a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed. The sufferings and the glory are certainly a category, a thematic category in Peter. The sufferings and the glory. And what it teaches us is that challenges, through Christ example, challenges must be met with glory and the victory of the future, or else people become overcome.
It says in Romans 8:18, For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. They’re not even comparable. So when the sufferings and challenges of life happen, we reach for, as Jesus Christ did, the joy that was set before him.
The sufferings and the glory have to be part of the understanding curriculum of a leader. We understand the crucifixion and its significance, but we also understand the resurrection and the glory and the victory. And that must be on a day-by-day basis. One gives us empathy. The sufferings of Christ actually can give us empathy with people. We can relate to people because he could. But then with that also comes the glory, and that’s as significant as well.
Looking to the Joy Set Before Him in Hebrews 12:2
It says in Hebrews 12:2 that we are to look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. He needed to look to the future in order to carry out his commissioning and his responsibility. And Christian leaders, it’s the same thing.
Suffering Wrongfully Is Thankworthy With God
Keep your finger here and turn back to chapter 2 of 1 Peter. Now Peter, like I said, he witnessed the sufferings of Christ. He also saw him in his resurrected body. He saw him ascend into heaven. You and I have not had that privilege, but God has made up for it, because it says here in 1 Peter chapter 2, verse 19, For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently, or endure it? But if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, or endure it, this is acceptable with God.
How can someone do that? The way that they can do it is the big picture of the glory of the future. For even hereunto were ye called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.
Christ Left Us a Written Copy to Follow
Now we don’t have a physical example or a visual example like Peter actually had, but this word example is a written copy. We have a written copy, and most specifically we can read about it in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John for his earthly ministry, and then the significance of what he wrought in the writings of Paul and others. So we have a written copy, and it says about Christ, Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth, who when he was reviled, reviled not again. When he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.
Feed the Flock of God: Lead, Guard, and Guide
Back to 1 Peter 5. There are going to be challenges in life, but we can set an example of how to look to the glory of the future in so many ways that brings us up and out, because that’s what Peter is talking about here.
Look at 1 Peter 5 verse 2, Feed the flock of God, and this feed means to lead or guard or guide. We lead, guard, and guide people which is among you, meaning within your sphere of influence. We set an environment, the people we have access to on a consistent basis. We want to set a proper environment by not only teaching, but here in this context by example. Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples, which is King James old English for an example, to the flock.
Not by Constraint but Willingly
So we lead, guide, and guard God’s people through example. We don’t do it by constraint. That means by compulsion, by force. We’re not forced to do these things, and that’s a beautiful thing, because if we’re forced, then we end up forcing other people. We don’t force people. We don’t force decisions. We allow God to open the doors for us. This is a gentle walk, and what’s so beautiful about that is it’s not by constraint but willingly. When we allow God to work and set an example in that environment, it demonstrates that willingly, that free will, and people are more inspired to volunteer. We can do this by our example.
Not for Filthy Lucre but of a Ready Mind
We don’t feed, lead, guide, and guard for filthy lucre, which means greedy gain or inappropriate gain or advantage, but in contrast to that, we do it with a ready mind. We do it eagerly, and that’s something that we build in our lives, because we all have challenges, and there are times when we are challenged. This is talking about a lifestyle, not necessarily that you do it right every time, but we see that Christ also was challenged, and a leader will be challenged with the sufferings of this present time, but they’re not to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed, and that’s what we hold on to like Christ did. He held on to the joy that was set before him. He endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Not Lords Over God’s Heritage
It says that we don’t lead or guide or guard God’s people by being lords over them. We’re not lording over or domineering over people because of the position or the role that we might be functioning in. If we guide and lead because of obligation, or we do it for personal gain or advantage, or we do it by domineering others, it will absolutely influence our personal interactions with people. It’ll influence our decisions. It’ll influence the words that we speak. Then it will affect the flock.
Pretty interesting how Peter points these things out, and his firsthand knowledge of Jesus Christ, he could attest, Peter, if he was alive now, he could attest to every one of these things, that Jesus didn’t do it. He did the right way. He did it willingly. He didn’t do it for filthy lucre. He did it of a ready mind with eagerness, and he certainly didn’t lord over people.
Building an Environment of Free Will, Not Force
You know, the way that we can do this is we promote an environment that does not force people into things, but promotes kind of free will, which is much more gracious, an environment that’s not about personal gain or advantage. So we’re aware, and we want to set the right example not to fall into that. And this certainly starts with the leader. We want to promote eager participation because free will is so key to understanding what love is. And if we can have an environment of free will where people willingly give of themselves, people willingly take on roles and responsibilities, that’s a good thing.
An environment that is not top down, oppressive, that quenches the spirit, but an environment that promotes kind of like a grace-filled interaction, where we’re all looking for God’s wisdom to work wherever it comes from and whomever it comes from. We’re not into shaming people for their opinions, though we may not agree. And that’s okay. That’s okay. Peter here talks about an environment where people feel appreciated would be a way of expressing it, and needed, and so they can contribute willingly with a willing heart. We can set that kind of example.
People Can Read the Example You Set
This environment begins with those who willingly and eagerly lead, guard, and guide. They’re not forced into it. They do it willingly. And it also promotes that free will and eager participation in other people, because people can read you. People can see the example that we set. None of us are perfect, so that’s a given. But setting the right example is so important when it comes to leading people. And you can and I can lead by the right motive, that free will given, that eagerness to take on that guiding, that guarding, that leading God’s people. And where are we leading them? To Christ. And Christ leads us all to God.
A Crown of Glory That Fadeth Not Away
Not only does this benefit us now, but it also benefits us in the future, because verse four says, And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, that’s Jesus Christ, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Christian leaders are examples of that right motive. They’re not to be motivated by force. No one makes us do this, but we also don’t want that to happen so then we don’t force others either. But rather, we freely take on the role. A leader is not motivated by improper personal gain or advantage from the role of responsibility, but demonstrates an eagerness to carry out that role because of what God did in Christ for them. They embraced the crucifixion and the resurrection. We understand their sufferings in this life, but they’re not to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us. We set that deeply within our soul, and that gives us the strength to be that example. We’re not motivated by positions of authority, but we’re motivated to lead others to Christ through that proper example. And certainly, we see the benefit now and we will see it most significantly in the future. Thank you.
Key Takeaways
- Leaders are examples in motive: not motivated by force, not by improper personal gain or advantage, and not by a position of authority.
- In 1 Peter 5:2, feed means to lead, guard, and guide, and which is among you means within your sphere of influence.
- Not by constraint means not by compulsion or force. Because a leader is not forced, the leader does not force others, and people are more inspired to volunteer.
- Filthy lucre means greedy gain or inappropriate gain or advantage. The contrast Peter gives is a ready mind, doing it eagerly, as a lifestyle.
- Ensamples is King James old English for an example. Leaders lead by example rather than by lording over God’s heritage.
- The sufferings of this present time are not to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed, and the chief Shepherd gives a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean that leaders are examples in motive?
It means the leader’s reason for leading is itself the example. Rico Magnelli defines it three ways from 1 Peter 5: a Christian leader is not motivated by force, because no one makes us do what we do; not motivated by improper personal gain or advantage from the role; and not motivated by a position of authority, but motivated to lead others to Christ through example. The role is freely taken on, and the reward is both now and in the future.
What does not by constraint but willingly mean in 1 Peter 5:2?
Constraint means by compulsion, by force. Peter tells elders to take the oversight of the flock not by constraint but willingly, and the point is that leaders are not forced into the role. That matters because if we are forced, we end up forcing other people. Instead we do not force people or decisions, we allow God to open the doors, and that free-will example inspires others to volunteer willingly.
What does filthy lucre mean in 1 Peter 5:2?
Filthy lucre means greedy gain, or inappropriate gain or advantage taken from the role of leading. Peter sets it in contrast with of a ready mind, which means doing it eagerly. Rico Magnelli notes there is appropriate benefit in leadership, but the motive is not improper personal gain. A ready mind is something built over a lifestyle, not a matter of getting it right every single time.
Scripture References
1 Peter 5:1; Romans 8:18; Hebrews 12:2; 1 Peter 2:19-23; 1 Peter 5:2-4
This text was prepared from the teaching audio and notes. Please verify scripture references against your own Bible.
