“Shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight . . . voluntarily, according to the will of God; . . . with eagerness . . .” (1 Peter 5:2).
Clearly, God’s desire is for the church to be led by willing, eager elders, not reluctant ones. The work, even when done with a shepherd’s heart and with godly motivation, can be very difficult. Many elders strain under the burden. The man who desires power and honor will soon wilt, stagnate, or become derailed in this good work—and the people will suffer.
What makes elders stand out is a “willingness to sacrifice.” One does not serve as a shepherd of God’s people with money as the primary motivation. A shepherd will shepherd whether or not there is financial remuneration. The “financial support,” if there is any, does not provide motivation, but provides time so the elder can spend less of hours earning his wages, and more time being about the work of shepherding.
If a person is resistant to shepherding God’s people without pay, then pay will not motivate him to godly shepherding. This “voluntariness” must be accompanied by eagerness, an enthusiasm and cheerfulness. A person may be willing to volunteer as an elder, but to do it with joy is a sign of the true shepherd’s heart.
So what motivates the elder to be willing and eager while carrying the burden of shepherding? The answer is this: “When the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory” (1 Peter 5:4).