The older I get, the more sleep I need. Conversely, the older I get the less sleep I seem to get. I experience the usual middle of the morning awakenings that accompany most men my age. Those older than me assure me it will only get worse. Don’t you just love people who speak encouragement into your life! But once I am awakened, there a certain Bible verse often pops into my shattered unconsciousness. While the usual “natural causes” may awaken me, this verse keeps me awake many nights.
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Hebrews 13:17
Responsibility Keeps Me Awake at Night
The gravity of the mission is spelled out in the phrase “keeping watch over your souls.” The phrase refers to the act of staying awake and vigilant to one’s surroundings so others could peacefully rest. In the Bible, shepherds are great examples of those who would “keep watch.”
The New Testament translates word “pastor” from the same word it translates “shepherd.” While Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11-18), He has given men the responsibility to be under-shepherds of His flock.
A shepherd’s responsibility may be summed up in three words: feeding, leading, protecting. Often in New Testament times, a shepherd did not own the flock he kept. Usually a rich herdsman owned the flocks, and they hired shepherds to take care of them. But the shepherd was ultimately responsible to the owner for what happened to his sheep.
The sheep did not always want to go the way the shepherd led them. They often resisted he shepherd’s guidance, even when it was for their own good. The shepherd was able to see and sense dangers to which the sheep would be oblivious. But still… the shepherd was responsibly to feed, to lead, and to protect.
So, my responsibility as Jesus’ under-shepherd keeps me awake both physically and figuratively. I often lie in bed and pray for my church. I pray for the people whom I know are struggling in various ways. Many nights I pray for God’s help to give me wisdom to lead and guide in His way. I pray over what to feed His sheep. And, yes, I especially pray for those who resist my leading. Why? Because I love Jesus, and Jesus loves His sheep. And so do I. I want nothing more that His best for us.
Accountability Keeps Me Awake at Night
Another phrase in that verse keeps me awake as well, “…as those who will have to give an account.” One day we will ALL stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ. We will give an account of how we invested the gift of grace God gave us. For pastors, a large part of that accounting will be our faithfulness to shepherd the flock He gave us.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
2 Corintians 5:10
However, I am in serious trouble as soon as I begin to think that I can shepherd in my own strength. My accountability is not for the results I generated by my own effort. I am accountable to for my faithfulness to lead His sheep wherever He said to lead them. To feed His sheep whatever He gave me to feed them. And to protect His sheep from both external and internal dangers He revealed to me.
My accountability as the under-shepherd of Christ is to the Chief Shepherd alone.
… shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
1 Peter 5:2-4
So that accountability keeps me awake at night. Questions lurk in my thoughts, uninhibited in the quietness of the night. Did I follow Jesus or let others sway me? Am I building His kingdom or mine? Do I faithfully and fully carryout what He asks of me daily?
Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy compliments as much as anyone. We can all use more encouragement. But I live for the day when I will hear the Chief Shepherd say, “Well done. good and faithful servant.” That is my ultimate accountability.
A Word to Pastors
I close with a word to two groups of people. First, my fellow pastors. I love you and want God’s best for all of us.
Guys, we need to take our responsibility and accountability seriously. When I first started in ministry, a wise older pastor warned me of the temptations to whine, shine and recline. I have found all three to be formidable temptation.
Let’s not build our kingdom, brand, social media following or reputations. Success is not found on a denominational platform or in a social media following. God may bring those things to your ministry. And if He does, it is good. But first a foremost, you have been called to pastor a local congregation of believers. If you love Him, feed His sheep.
Don’t cut corners. Don’t “mail it in.” Tell them from His Word what He wants them to know about Him, His purposes, and His ways. Don’t plagiarize. Don’t preach sermons from a book; preach from THE Book.
Artificial intelligence and modern technology hold a lot of promise for helping us do our jobs better. But we cannot let them do our jobs for us. Preach God’s Word to YOUR congregation.
Love, lead, and feed the precious souls for whom Jesus died and gave you the privilege to tend
A Word to Church Members
If you are not part of a Bible teaching local church, don’t walk – RUN! to one. You don’t have to go to church to become a Christian, but you do have to go to “be” a Christian. Jesus called His followers together in community. To reject community is to disobey Him.
If you are a church member, pray for your pastor. Go back and read the verse I started with. I wrote about the part God used to deal with me. But a great portion of it is for you too. Follow YOUR pastor’s leadership. Yes, even if you don’t like him or agree with him. Unless he is teaching heresy or living in sin, follow him. God has placed him in your life for your good.
We have the opportunities through television, the internet, and podcasts to hear a plethora of preachers. But there is ONE that God has placed in your life to shepherd you. God has told those preachers what He wants their congregations to know. But you are not in his congregation. You are in YOURS. With YOUR pastor whom God is leading to teach you. Those TV preachers are not accountable to God for you, but your local church pastor is.
Pray for him. Love him. Listen to him. Learn from him. God will hold him accountable for how faithful he was to lead you. But He also will hold you accountable for how faithful you are to follow God’s Word through him.