Wednesday, June 30 Shepherd the flock of God under your care, serving as overseers.​—1 Pet. 5:2.

[Áine]

Wednesday, June 30

Shepherd the flock of God under your care, serving as overseers.—1 Pet. 5:2.

 

Jehovah has entrusted elders with the important responsibility to shepherd his people. Elders can learn much from examining how Nehemiah dealt with Jehovah’s people. As governor of Judah, Nehemiah had considerable authority. (Neh. 1:11; 2:7, 8; 5:14) Imagine some of the challenges that Nehemiah faced. He had learned that the people had defiled the temple and were not supporting the Levites financially as the Law directed. The Jews were violating the Sabbath law, and some of the men had married foreign women. Governor Nehemiah would have to handle this difficult situation. (Neh. 13:4-30) Nehemiah did not abuse his authority by imposing his own standards on God’s people. Instead, he sought Jehovah’s guidance in earnest prayer, and he taught the people Jehovah’s Law. (Neh. 1:4-10; 13:1-3) Nehemiah also humbly worked alongside his brothers, even helping them to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls.—Neh. 4:15. w19.09 16 ¶9-10

[Elnathan]

Elders do well to imitate Jehovah’s servants of old like Nehemiah. Though the Jews violated Jehovah’s laws in so many ways, but with the considerable authority he had he didn’t act as a tyrant by imposing his own standards on them.
 

Elders who readily submit to Jehovah will have a humble attitude like that of Nehemiah, they will treat God’s flock with love, tender compassion, kindness & respect. If they do that they will make Jehovah’s heart rejoice & the entire congregations will be more united. 

[Vinnie]

The flock feel safe when overseer's care for them  in a tender and loving manner. As beloved children we need constant reminders and instructions and elders and overseers are entrusted with this big responsibility.

[Amygdala]

This can be particularly a challenge when someone is influenced by cultural thinking or feels over-confident in their assignment, and minimizes any mistakes in asserting authority. The "imposing his own standards" is something elders have to be careful about. For example, one would never want to feel the need to give counsel in a spirit of humiliation, especially public, or think they can assert counsel in the presence of children or family members who should not have knowledge of such things.

 

Nehemiah was also a fine example of not being "us" (in authority) vs. "them", even humbly working along side-by-side with the Jews to do the work, instead of just directing them.

Edited June 30, 2021 by Lieblingskind

[wallyahoo]

Nehemiah,Good example for elder,he shows we are “all” equal fellow workers with various assignments and responsibilities 1 Peter 5:3-