Session 15

Taking care of the flock

From The Blessed Life

Friends are gifts from God. You’ve read it on a zillion bookmarks. And God wants us to be good stewards of all His gifts.

To be a good steward of anything we have to put selfishness aside. It’s so easy to be self-centered with work or plans. We assume our friendships will be the same when we get around to making time for them.

Ezekiel says, “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost.”

From time to time, we all get wrapped up in our world. We are focused on trials and joys, and we want everyone else to be wrapped up in them as well. However, we are not called to be just sheep in God’s flock, but shepherds. God wants us to take care of each other in times of sickness, build up in times of weakness, to share in each others’ joy and to find the sheep who have strayed or are lost.

Today, ask yourself how you can be a better steward — or shepherd — of the flock. Has God put someone in your life who needs to hear your testimony or needs a firm but gentle friend to steer them back on track? Is there someone who needs your encouragement or just a little more time with you? Whom do you need to thank for being there for you? Ask God to show you who needs your care and you will find His gifts — and his flock — will multiply.