Feeding the Flock.
Zion's Advocate, October 1903,
True ministers have been called to the very responsible but delightful task of feeding the flock of God, and have been given qualifications necessary for this great work, and are furnished with proper food to dispense to the sheep of that flock. We say this is a delightful task as well as a responsible one. We do not mean by this that the preacher is always delighted with his own efforts, or that his heart is always light with joy as he labors in the cause of his great Shepherd, the owner of the sheep. The weather in the field is not always mild and pleasant. Storms come, and the under- shepherd must face the storms. Darkness gathers, but he must not forsake his work for that reason.Peter, who had denied the Saviour, was asked, in tones of purest affection, "Lovest thou me more than these things?" His answer being given in the affirmative, with the assurance he had that Jesus knew he loved him, he was told to feed the sheep and lambs. Thirty years after this, Peter sat down and wrote a letter to the scattered elect whom he called strangers. In the fifth chapter of that holy message, according to the division since made, he addressed the elders among that elect people, testifying that he was also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ. He said to these elders, "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock." Thus the charter delivered from the lips of the Master to Peter was, by inspiration, transmitted through him to the elders in general.
The elders are here instructed to engage in their work with a willing and ready mind, and not by constraint or for the sake of filthy lucre, and they are told not to assume a lordly authority over the heritage or elect of God. This does not mean that the elders are not to be supported by the flock they serve, for it is the duty of the church to support the preacher, who faithfully serves them, which is clearly set forth in the Scriptures. It simply means they are not to preach for the sake of a support or for financial gain. They should aim much higher than such filthy wages.
Their work is to feed the flock of God. This flock has an appetite for the pure gospel. If slop should be poured into a trough before a flock of sheep, a hog that might happen to be among them would run up and eagerly drink it down, but not one sheep would taste it. Proper food must be put into the trough, such as sheep require and relish, or they will not touch it. So the melting story of Jesus and his love must be proclaimed or the sheep of his fold will not be fed.
When the under-shepherd comes into the field with proper food, the sheep, though they may be scattered to the various corners, will begin to gather to him as soon as they discover that he actually has what they are hungering for. Pure gospel preaching always draws Christ's flock together. Preaching that scatters and distresses them is not pure gospel preaching. Chaff is driven away by the gospel fan, but the wheat is gathered together. The only division made by preaching the pure gospel, then, is a division between the sheep and the goats. How grand it is to see the sheep and lambs drawing together to receive the food provided for them by their Owner above and dispensed to them by the under-shepherds! The sheep are to be fed and the lambs are not to be neglected. It is necessary to take the doctrine and reduce it to the milk state that the lambs may be fed thereon. How gentle and kind is the true servant who loves the flock and has their welfare at heart! He handles them with care and speaks to them in tones of tenderest love. His great kindness wins their confidence, esteem and affection. His coming to them fills them with delight and they are not afraid in his presence. He asks with an eager searching of his own heart,
"Hast Thou a lamb in all thy fold
I would disdain to feed?"
And as he stands before their foes in defense of their rights he bravely enquires,
"Hast Thou a foe before whose face
I fear Thy cause to plead?"
To satisfy the hunger of the heaven born and heaven bound flock of Jesus with precious gospel food and to stand between them and their foes is a blessed, glorious work. As a servant of the Master let us die rather than willfully neglect, offend, scatter, disgrace or forsake them. Lord, enable us to feed them.
J. R. D.
Copyright c. 2005. All rights reserved. The Primitive Baptist Library.
