The Work of Shepherds (4)

Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation. 2 Corinthians 9.5

The Book of Pastoral Rule
Gregory the Great (ca. 540-604)
“But, on the other hand, those who in no wise complete the good things they have begun are to be admonished to consider with cautious circumspection how that, when they accomplish not their purposes, they tear up with them even the things that had been begun…If then the strong hand of the worker carry not on to perfection the good things begun, the very slackness in working fights against what has been wrought.”

The Corinthians had promised to help with the relief of the believers in Palestine, but they had not performed their promise. Like many believers today, who make all kinds of confessions and pledges, but carry through on precious little of any of them. People don’t typically do what you expect; they do what you inspect. So Paul was sending “the brothers” ahead of him to get the gift read and help the Corinthians finish what they had started. Believers need to be continually exhorted to run their race, not to grow weary in doing good works, and to persevere in obedience. We know how easy it is to start something new, but how hard it can be to bring it to completion. True shepherds will continue to lead their flocks until the good works God is looking for come increasingly to light.

What does your own example say to the people you serve about finishing what you start?

T. M. Moore

Mission Partners Outreach
Loving God means living as witnesses for Christ. Loving our neighbors means bearing witness to Christ’s love and life. Living and loving this way requires training devoted to helping us grow into Jesus so that we live as His witnesses. Jesus trained and deployed His followers two-by-two, to learn and serve together in proclaiming His Kingdom. Are you following this pattern? Our Mission Partners Outreach provides the resources and framework for making witness-bearing disciples in your church. Want to learn how it works? I’m currently looking for two men to work with me through this six-month training effort, which includes preparing a plan to implement this free training in your own church. Watch this brief video, then contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.for more information.

The Fellowship of Ailbe is supported through the generous and faithful gifts of those who benefit from and believe in our work. Does the Lord want to use you in this way? Please look to Him in prayer over this question. You can contribute to The Fellowship of Ailbe by using the Contribute button at our website, or by sending your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452. Thank you.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.All quotations are from Gregory,The Book of Pastoral Rule,in Philip Schaff and Henry Wace, eds., Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 12(Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1895, 1995).