Shepherd or Hired Hand?
John 10:12-13 NIV
"The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep."
In this passage, Jesus was referring to the Pharisees. He called them "hired hands", people who work merely for a wage.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Think about the people that you know, those you have worked with. Most people go to work merely to get their paycheck. but occasionally there is that one person who actually "takes ownership" of his or her job. I talked to such a person once... She was a Christian, and she had spent many years in the employee relations department of a huge international corporation. She was a shepherd to the "flock" that had been given to her for her care. She spent untold hours, far beyond the normal 40 hour week, caring for the needs of the many people in her charge, getting phone calls at 2:00 a.m., loving each one of them as though they were her own. After she retired, a large group of these people gave her a luncheon to show their appreciation for all of the many things she had done for them over the years ... things that were certainly not in her job description. Her response was that of a true shepherd. She thanked them for all their compliments, then said, "I wouldn't have done all those things if the good Lord hadn't directed me to, so give Him thanks more than me."
This woman was always there for the people in her care, and always giving credit to Jesus in the process. Even more than that precious woman was there for her people, Jesus is always there for you. right by your side, watching over you, seeing to your needs, comforting you, loving you. When all others turn away, know that Jesus, your eternal shepherd, never will.
Used with Permission
