Because you are willing

“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… (1 Peter 5:2-3)” To be willing is to be ready, eager or prepared to do something. To lord over someone is to dominate, direct or control them in an arrogant fashion. I bet if you asked people why they left a church or why church leaders don’t seem to embrace their duties, it will probably be tied to the people feeling as if they were being lorded over in some way by leaders and that some leaders were not really wanting to serve in the manner they were asked to serve. When it comes to being in positions of authority people often don’t like feeling as if they have to do something when their heart is not in it. Similarly, many people will not go to church if they feel the leadership at a particular church is controlling and domineering. That may be one reason so many people only go to church on Easter and Christmas. However, how does Peter instruct overseers to act? He says the overseers are to shepherd their flocks because they “are willing” not because they “must” do it. In short one comes from “obedience” to duty while the other is a fruit of the spirit; love. As a Christian, I can testify of times when attending church felt like a job I was obligated to do. Nobody wants to feel as if they are upsetting God or, at the very least, family and friends who attend a particular church. 

While people may respond to things they feel they must do, in time they will stop doing them and prefer to face whatever consequences may arise from their “rebellion.” Yet, when an individual is being loved by their God, through faith in Jesus Christ, their actions will be motivated by love rather than duty. You will want to see that those you are asked to shepherd are receiving the same love of God that you are receiving. Conversely, as a churchgoer, you will want to attend services and support a church that is teaching the truth about the love of God and who you are in Christ, plus a church whose leadership is preaching what they practice. Jesus said, “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself (John 12:32).” People are drawn to Jesus because of His love which was displayed by Him living a life we can’t, dying a death He didn’t deserve and being resurrected in order to restore the life of God we lost when Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden. As Christians, when Jesus is living His life in and through us, as only He can, others will be drawn to us because we will be bearing the fruit of His love being produced in us. Ultimately, this change of heart will change our desires and we will want to serve others in love and attend churches and fellowships where we are experiencing for ourselves the love of God being shared with us. The Christian life will become something you want to participate in not something you have to participate in.