October 2, 2025
In our last post, we explored why shepherding is God’s chosen model for leadership. But scripture also gives us a sobering picture of what happens when leaders abandon that model. Ezekiel 34 provides one of the sharpest critiques of failed shepherds, and its message still resonates today.
A Prophetic Warning
Ezekiel describes leaders who exploited their role: “You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep” (Ezek. 34:3). These shepherds enriched themselves while neglecting the flock. The weak were not strengthened, the sick were not healed, the strayed were not brought back. Instead, the sheep were scattered, vulnerable to predators and danger.
God’s verdict is unflinching: “Behold, I am against the shepherds” (Ezek. 34:10). Leaders who use their position for personal gain rather than service place themselves in opposition to God Himself.
The Promise of Better Shepherds
Yet Ezekiel’s warning is not the final word. Through Jeremiah, God promised: “I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding” (Jer. 3:15). Where failed leaders scatter, faithful shepherds gather. Where false leaders exploit, true shepherds nourish and protect.
Modern Parallels
Self-serving leadership is not limited to ancient Israel. Today it may look like leaders chasing personal recognition, guarding their comfort, or using people as tools to build their ministry brand. These tendencies may not seem as blatant as Ezekiel’s critique, but the effect is the same: the flock suffers.
By contrast, shepherd leaders see people not as a means to an end but as God’s beloved sheep. Their choices are shaped by sacrificial service, not self-preservation.
Reflection for Leaders
Are your leadership decisions motivated by calling or comfort?
Do the people under your leadership feel cared for—or used?
An Invitation
This post draws from themes in my book Kingdom over Culture: Restoring Biblical Leadership in a Secularized Church. If you’d like to go deeper, you can order the book here https://drmeredithjames.com/shop. I also offer workshops, staff trainings, and speaking engagements on shepherd leadership and other frameworks for kingdom leadership. To learn more or invite me to work with your team, connect with me here https://drmeredithjames.com/.
