A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep. (John 10:12-13)

Read: Isaiah 34:1 – 35:10, Micah 2:1 – 5:15

Relate: It is not that I am indecisive, I am just curious. Every now and then if the mood strikes me when I go out to eat I will simply ask the waiter to surprise me. I used to do this all the time at my favorite Starbucks. It got to the point where some of the baristas were trying out new and different experiments on their own so that they would have something new to offer me. Other times, as a way to test my waiter’s knowledge I will ask them what is good or perhaps I’ll have them describe their favorite item. One time my waitress threw me for a loop with her answer. She said, “Honestly I don’t really like anything we serve here.” While I was grateful for her honesty and candor, it didn’t offer much hope for my dining experience. That was more an answer I would expect to hear (and agree with) at a place like McDonalds.

Wage workers aren’t often very invested in their job. To be honest, most employees at most places of employment aren’t very invested in their jobs. Yes, they might invest huge segments of their time, thought, and effort into whatever it is they are doing from 9-5 (or 8-5 here since the Turkish work week is 45 not 40 hours). They invest time but their heart is not invested. If I were to do a random survey with one question, “Do you love your job?” I am certain far more than half the people respond would say no.

React: Do we work for money or do we work for love? What is the motivation behind what we do? What about our service for God? No, we certainly aren’t expecting to get paid for teaching that Sunday School class or home group. I don’t know anybody who thinks spending four (or more) years accumulating debt at a Bible College so that they can get a youth/children/assistant pastor position that almost pays enough to cover rent is good financial planing. But are we simply making an investment in heavenly rewards or are we truly invested in the ones we are called to shepherd? Even if we’re not in it for the money, are we still just hired hands?

Respond: 

God, help me to love Your sheep. Give me a heart and a compassion for every soul found in the fields I walk. I don’t want to serve You simply as an earthly or even heavenly investment. I want to be spiritually and emotionally invested in the life, cares, and the well being of those around me. Give me the heart of a shepherd.