The Shepherd’s Example (8)
A man’s pride will bring him low,
But the humble in spirit will retain honor. Proverbs 29.23
Every shepherd must deal with the temptation to be prideful. Not to take pride in one’s work, that’s another thing, and when it is pure and holy, leads ultimately to thanks and praise to God.
But pride as in pridefulness, thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought, basking in the plaudits and compliments of the Lord’s sheep, believing that, indeed, we are the people and when we die wisdom and a whole lot more dies with us (Job 12.2).
Hildegard of Bingen was one of the most remarkable people of her age (1098-1179). She was abbess of a renowned nunnery, advisor to bishops and kings, poet, artist, counselor, theologian, and spotless example of Christlikeness. If anyone had reason to boast (as Paul might say), it was she.
But Hildegard recognized the trap of pride and her marvelous book Scivias[1], warned against it: “And when pride strives to build without a firm foundation rock and raise up his tower of vanity within me, and when he is about to reach a height that none can equal, and when I appear higher than the others: oh, who will come to my aid?…In great sadness then I say: ‘Where is my king and my God? What good can I do without God? No good!’ And I look to God who gave me life.”
I suspect that most shepherds deal with pride at one time or another. As many opportunities as we have for it, how could it not be so? No matter how justified we may feel in indulging pride, we need to be careful. The Lord resists the proud, but He gives grace to the humble. Let every inclination to feel or act in a prideful manner drive us, like Hildegard, to seek the Lord. He alone can deliver us from this destructive affection.
Being disciples and making disciples
All Christians have been empowered by God to be witnesses for Jesus. And being a witness is a way of life, not just a program. Mike McQueen helps us think about the disciple’s work as a witness for Jesus in this week’s conversation. Click the audio bar or the link at the top of this article to listen in.
Resources for Shepherds
Praying the psalms can be one of most helpful and transforming ways to commune with the Lord. Christians in every age have done so, but it’s not a widely-practiced discipline in our day. This fall, our Men’s Reading Group Praying with the Psalms can show you how to get started praying, singing, and meditating on the psalms as an exciting and transforming aspect of your walk with and work for the Lord. For more information on this Group, including dates and times, click here.
Another offering this fall will be our Men’s Bible Study Group. The topic is The Ongoing Work of Christ: Acts and Beyond. We will look at all the work Jesus came to do, how the early Church sought to carry that work forward, and what the implications are for us. For more information on dates and our free workbook, click here.
Other columns of interest this week: In our ReVision series on “The Kingdom Economy” we are looking at grace, which is the currency we use to make our way in the divine economy. In our Read Moore podcast this week, we continue our readings from the book, Such a Great Salvation. Our Crosfigell series on Brendan of Clonfert finds the saint preparing for his second voyage to visit The Promised Land of the Saints. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
From the Celtic Revival
Brendan of Clonfert (fl. ca. 560 AD):
The procurator said: “I will leave you now, and will come to you again together with all things, that ye will require, as the Holy Procurator came to the apostles of old…And when the time expired, Brendan prepared to set forth, and was putting out from the land, when he saw the procurator coming to him with a boat full of provisions, and he gave these to Brendan, and then returned himself the way by which he came.
– The Life of Brendan of Clonfert
Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.
– Acts 4.32
Among the most attractive traits of the communities that grew up around Irish monasteries in the 6th and 7th centuries was their generosity. As in the case of Brendan, when the Procurator (Abbot) promised to send him along on His journey with all his needs supplied, he knew his Brethren and the people they served would rise to the occasion. Hospitality, generosity, selflessness, sacrifice—we have much to learn from these communities, such as the one on Ailbe that helped Brendan more than once on his journey.
Follow Brendan’s adventure of faith—which, while certainly historical, is in many ways a parable for every believer’s journey in the Lord. Add our twice-weekly Crosfigell teaching letter to your subscriptions.
Brendan was one of the first peregrinati—wandering missionary/scholars—of the Celtic Revival. They took as their example Patrick, who itinerated all around Ireland for nearly sixty years. Learn more about Patrick’s work in our free PDF, Patrick: A Devotional History.
T. M. Moore
If you have found this issue of Pastor to Pastor helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
[1]All quotations are from Mark Atherton, tr. and ed., Hildegard of Bingen: Selected Writings (London: Penguin Books, 2001).
