We all know who thieves are, right? What about when it comes to the Lord’s kingdom? Who are the thieves? Who was Judas really? Who are the hired guns? No Honor Among Thieves!

John 10:11-13 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.”

1 Peter 5:1-4 “To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”

I have met a lot of church fellowship leaders and most of these have a sincere heart. I have seen some of them crushed by the systems they uphold. They search for some organization that comes close to their belief system and then do what it takes to get the credentials necessary to lead the group or organization. I have also met others who have separated themselves from others, usually because of wounds and established a following for themselves. We have all heard of people like Jim Jones and have wondered how that could happen. Unfortunately, this happens more often than is seen.

Who is a thief? A thief is one who steals something that doesn’t belong to him or her. The Lord is the good shepherd. The sheep belong to Him and Him alone. We also see that there is a hired hand, a wolf and other shepherds. Peter admonishes shepherds to not be greedy for money, but be eager to serve. He also says not to lord it over others, but be examples to the flock. The hired hand, as the title suggests, is only in it for the money. As soon as the wolf is revealed in the midst, the hired hand is gone. It is then that the flock is scattered, separated and can be picked off by the enemy.

No honor among thieves! The enemy doesn’t care how he gets to people, he just wants to kill, steal and destroy. How are you doing? Are you alone and separated? Are you in a fellowship run by a hired hand? Are you in a fellowship run by someone who is greedy for money? Do they have your best interest at heart? There is One who loves you dearly. He wants to make sure you live your life in the fullness it was meant to be lived. Would you like that? What would you do to make sure you lived the destiny you were created to live? There is no honor among thieves. The end result is all the same. You can see them compete for the sheep. We have to have your money. We have to have your time. We need your commitment. We need your life. But what do they do for the flock. Do they care for His flock? Do they help the downcast, the needy and the poor or are they more interested in their buildings and material things?

Friends it is time to seek the Lord and make sure we are living for Him and not ourselves or someone else. There are a lot of good things out there that aren’t beneficial to us. We have a destiny that was planned for us before there was time. Before we were born, the Lord knew us. He is the Good Shepherd. He gave His life for us. Should we give Him any less? Should we let someone else’s influence be stronger than His? It’s our choice. What will we choose? As for me, I choose to serve Him with all that is within me. I may not get it all right, but I am going to do my best. Don’t let someone else take your life. Live your life to the full. There are leaders out there that truly care. The church isn’t as large as it seems. Dare to find your path. Let Him guide you, heal you, support you, lift you up and lead you to where you need to go. In the end you will hear the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” This is the cry of my heart, let it be yours too.

Joseph