A shepherd or a hired hand?

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. But he who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and runs away. So the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.” John 10: 11-12

The Lord Jesus compares himself to the good shepherd who gives His life to rescue his sheep. He guards them, feeds them, guides and protects them against predators.

On the other hand, if there are good pastors it is because there are also the bad ones. These are the wage earners, who work only for money but not for the love of souls.

The servants who don’t have true love for souls don’t care about the stage of their sheep. Those who perform the work of God to receive a salary, or thinking of their own life and well-being for sure are not willing to make any sacrifice for the people who need their help and direction.

These are those who don’t pray for the people, are not interested in knowing the suffering of the people; they will not wake up in the middle of the night to pray for the afflicted, much less sacrifice their day off if needed. They just meet their schedules and live their lives normally without even thinking about those who are spiritually dependent on them. And when the “wolf” comes, they are the first to flee and leave behind the herd that is unprotected and exposed to all dangers.

As the Word of God describes them, these are the hired hand who are not shepherds.

There is a difference between working for a profit and to working for love. He who truly loves souls gives himself for them, in prayer, fasting, vigils, counseling, visits, and all that he can do for the afflicted. This is the good shepherd, who cares about the well-being of his sheep; and even when he is not near them, his thoughts and prayers go along them, because he is aware that the sheep depends on his shepherd.

Meditate on how your service has been in the work of God!