Advice to Christians
The Apostle Peter writing to believers in Christ gave this advice,
“To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed:
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1Peter 5:1-11
Peter makes several important points here. First to the older men in the Church he states,
“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”
The older presumably better educated in the word of God and the knowledge of Christ are to be shepherds. To serve as overseers.
Overseers are there to see that those under them are correctly following the word of God not going astray. They must do this by example not by lording over people and trying to force them to do what is right.
They must also do it because they want to do it, not for money. Peter says they should “not be greedy for money” “but rather eager to serve”.
To the younger men he states,
“Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
Young men can be very eager to serve the Lord. As some one has said some young Christians “want to serve God and they want to server now! without waiting to learn about the ways of God and Christ.”
Young men need to humble themselves, Pray, study the scriptures and learn all they can about the ways of God and the teachings of Jesus. Then wait on the Lord and in due time God will lift them up.”
Young men need to go to those who are older than themselves for council and teaching. Then when they are ready use their youth in the service of God.
We are called to cast or anxieties on Jesus. To be self-controlled and alert. To resist the devil and stand firm in the faith. No matter the circumstances we are in.
Thus the questions are;
If you are older and in a position of trust within the Church are you leading others by your example? Are you correctly teaching the word of God to those entrusted to you?
If you are younger, are you humbling yourself before God and learning from those who are older in the Lord?
And no matter who you are, are you correctly teaching the word of God?
Please think about it.
The Apostle Peter writing to believers in Christ gave this advice,
“To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed:
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1Peter 5:1-11
Peter makes several important points here. First to the older men in the Church he states,
“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”
The older presumably better educated in the word of God and the knowledge of Christ are to be shepherds. To serve as overseers.
Overseers are there to see that those under them are correctly following the word of God not going astray. They must do this by example not by lording over people and trying to force them to do what is right.
They must also do it because they want to do it, not for money. Peter says they should “not be greedy for money” “but rather eager to serve”.
To the younger men he states,
“Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
Young men can be very eager to serve the Lord. As some one has said some young Christians “want to serve God and they want to server now! without waiting to learn about the ways of God and Christ.”
Young men need to humble themselves, Pray, study the scriptures and learn all they can about the ways of God and the teachings of Jesus. Then wait on the Lord and in due time God will lift them up.”
Young men need to go to those who are older than themselves for council and teaching. Then when they are ready use their youth in the service of God.
We are called to cast or anxieties on Jesus. To be self-controlled and alert. To resist the devil and stand firm in the faith. No matter the circumstances we are in.
Thus the questions are;
If you are older and in a position of trust within the Church are you leading others by your example? Are you correctly teaching the word of God to those entrusted to you?
If you are younger, are you humbling yourself before God and learning from those who are older in the Lord?
And no matter who you are, are you correctly teaching the word of God?
Please think about it.
