1 Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
Ministry leadership can be challenging. Dealing with people’s problems, complaints, selfishness, accidents, traumas, and poor decisions can weigh heavily upon leaders, especially the “elders” of the church who serve as “under shepherds” of the Chief Shepherd. Peter’s eschatology stands behind much of his letter (1:5, 7). This verse reveals further his expectation of Jesus’ second coming. Being a leader in the church, like the elders to whom Peter is writing, is a great responsibility. Elders are accountable for the privilege of leading God’s flock. This verse provides leaders within the church an incentive for leading well. In the early church, “elders” were not a special class of ordained clergy but the mature (usually older) believers in the church who provided leadership and spiritual care to the rest of the church. Many people in churches today could fit into this group.
The timeless principle, moreover, applies to all believers: be faithful in what we have been given to do. Those who lead the church must lead well. They must live as godly examples to those who are younger in the faith. We can only imagine what the crown of glory will be. The best words to hear will be, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). We can look to the true Lord who humbled himself and took the form of a servant (Philippines 2:5-11). In all areas where we lead, we must have a servant’s heart. Peter knew from experience about shepherding God’s people because that was the special ministry Jesus gave him to do (John 21:16).