Take care of others

"Just as shepherds watch over their sheep, you must watch over everyone God has placed in your care. Do it willingly in order to please God, and not simply because you think you must. Let it be something you want to do, instead of something you do merely to make money. Don’t be bossy to those people who are in your care, but set an example for them. When God, who is the best shepherd of all, comes out in the open with his rule, he’ll see that you’ve done it right and commend you lavishly."

Oh dear. Shock horror. It's not about me - it's about serving and looking after other people. Watching over everyone God has put in my care. Willingly.

So...

No picking and choosing who I should look after- it's EVERYONE in my care.

No picking and choosing when I should look after those in my care - it's ALL THE TIME.

No picking and choosing where I should look after those in my care -it's ANYWHERE.

Moses - and all those others in Hebrews 11 - chose, by faith, the hard way. The way of rejection and failure, to be chosen by God as leader of the Hebrews. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward...He chose a hard life with God’s people rather than an opportunistic soft life of sin with the oppressors. He valued suffering in the Messiah’s camp far greater than Egyptian wealth because he was looking ahead, anticipating the payoff.