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Pastor Poju Oyemade on The Shepherd, The Wolf, The Sheep and The Hireling – The Four Characters That “Play” In The Church Space.

Jesus speaking about the shepherd also tells us about these four principal characters who make up the dynamics of a Church or really any business organization. He said it this way

Joh 10:11-13 (KJV) I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. [12] But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. [13] The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

The Good Shepherd

We have the good shepherd whose role is the care giver to the sheep. His business is to make sure the sheep are adequately provided for conveying his responsibilities first and foremost through the words he speaks to them. He feeds them with words of knowledge and understanding and places them in folds for their protection.

His character trait is that he will defend the sheep with his life and reputation. He doesn’t flee at the sight of battle but will rise up to the challenge no matter what the wolf throws at him.

Jer 3:15-16 (KJV) And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. [16] And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land…

The Hireling

The next character is the hireling. 

This is a person who gets involved for commercial reasons. He is not really dangerous to the sheep because he is not after them, he seeks not to break the church, in fact, he wants the church doing well but his motives are financial, period.

He is in it for what material gains can come to him. He has no concept of the vision of that place, he will not lay down his life for anyone and his “brand” is more important to him than the future of the kingdom of God. In making decisions money is his bottom line and not the will of God for the people.

The only problem you may have with him is to put your trust in him thinking he will ride with you through thick and thin. 

Once he sees a threat and he thinks things may get rough here he jumps ship and looks for the next sheepfold where money can be made in peace.

Misplaced trust in a hireling may lead one to getting heart broken but outside that he is no real threat to the Church. In a business he works for money and will show no understanding of the vision that will make him go an extra mile for the client or customer out of love.

To Be Continued…

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