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Be shepherds of God's flock, the believers who are under your care. Serve as their leaders. Don't serve them because you have to. Instead, do it because you want to. That's what God wants you to do. Don't do it because you want to get more and more money. Do it because you really want to serve.
Reference
Greek: ἤμην (ḗmēn)
I was
Hebrew: hâvâʼ
to be (in the sense of existence)
Greek: κύριος (kýrios)
supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title)
Hebrew: ʼĕlâhh
God
Greek: ποίμνη (poímnē)
a flock (literally or figuratively)
Hebrew: mirʻîyth
pasturage; concretely, a flock
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: ἐστί (estí)
he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are
Greek: ὑποκάτω (hypokátō)
down under, i.e. beneath
Hebrew: tᵉchôwth
beneath
Greek: μέριμνα (mérimna)
solicitude
Hebrew: chărâdâh
fear, anxiety
Greek: λατρεύω (latreúō)
to minister (to God), i.e. render religious homage
Greek: καθά (kathá)
according to which things, i.e. just as
Hebrew: tachath
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc.
Greek: λατρεύω (latreúō)
to minister (to God), i.e. render religious homage
Greek: ἐπεί (epeí)
thereupon, i.e. since (of time or cause)
Greek: κατέχω (katéchō)
to hold down (fast), in various applications (literally or figuratively)
Greek: κατατίθημι (katatíthēmi)
to place down, i.e. deposit (literally or figuratively)
Hebrew: hêm
they (only used when emphatic)
Greek: ἐπεί (epeí)
thereupon, i.e. since (of time or cause)
Greek: ὑστέρησις (hystérēsis)
a falling short, i.e. (specially), penury
Hebrew: zôw
this or that
Hebrew: mân
who or what (properly, interrogatively, hence, also indefinitely and relatively)
Greek: κύριος (kýrios)
supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title)
Hebrew: ʼĕlâhh
God
Greek: κατατίθημι (katatíthēmi)
to place down, i.e. deposit (literally or figuratively)
Greek: κατατίθημι (katatíthēmi)
to place down, i.e. deposit (literally or figuratively)
Hebrew: hêm
they (only used when emphatic)
Greek: ἐπεί (epeí)
thereupon, i.e. since (of time or cause)
Greek: ὑστέρησις (hystérēsis)
a falling short, i.e. (specially), penury
Greek: ἄλλος (állos)
"else," i.e. different (in many applications)
Greek: καίγε (kaíge)
and at least (or even, indeed)
Hebrew: kîy
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Greek: ἄλλος (állos)
"else," i.e. different (in many applications)
Greek: νόμισμα (nómisma)
what is reckoned as of value (after the Latin numisma), i.e. current coin
Hebrew: keçeph
silver (from its pale color); by implication, money
Greek: κατατίθημι (katatíthēmi)
to place down, i.e. deposit (literally or figuratively)
Hebrew: hêm
they (only used when emphatic)
Greek: ἐπεί (epeí)
thereupon, i.e. since (of time or cause)
Greek: ὑστέρησις (hystérēsis)
a falling short, i.e. (specially), penury
Greek: λατρεύω (latreúō)
to minister (to God), i.e. render religious homage
Kingdom
Hebrews 12:15
Luke 12:32
Parallel theme
1 Timothy 3:8
1 Timothy 3:3
Titus 3:1
1 Corinthians 9:7
2 Peter 2:3
Zechariah 11:17
References God
Titus 1:7
Ezekiel 34:31
Verse Explanation
Church leaders are instructed to shepherd God's people willingly rather than reluctantly, serving because they genuinely desire to help and not because they are seeking personal financial gain.
History
1st century AD: Shepherd imagery was commonly used for leaders because caring for a community resembled a shepherd caring for sheep.