One of the most misapplied verses in the entire Bible is Heb. 13:17. It reads…
“Obey your leaders and submit to them, since they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”
The emphasis typically placed when reading this verse is on the word “Obey.” I offer another view that focuses on the responsibility of those who are appointed to “Keep watch over,” and “Give account.” My reason for this is that most so-called “leaders” in the Body are not qualified to be followed, imitated, or in any way “obeyed.” Why? Because they do not fulfill the responsibility to “Keep watch over” the saints. Their interests are in building an enterprise for the Lord. These people are more interested in hearing themselves expound the scriptures than listening to the saints so as to properly mend and prepare them. They love their soul-life and have adopted the false narrative that drives them to build people into organizations rather than Christ in people.
There is never a lack of people seeking those who will follow them. There is, however, a significant lack of elders who genuinely care for the saints. The word translated “keep watch” is from a = “without” and hypnos = sleep. It literally means to abstain completely from sleep, pass sleepless nights, to be sleepless, to lie awake and think about (Liddell Scott) to stay alert, and then figuratively to stay alert, to remain vigilant and fully aware of threatening peril, “to be alertly concerned about” (BDAG).
Those who have such a heart for the saints will never lord it over those appointed to them. Rather, they will walk among the saints and labor until Christ is formed in them. As I have walked before the Lord and spent my life on others, I have seen the issue is not whether people have a heart to yield to others. In fact, most young believers are desperate for those who will genuinely care for their growth in Christ. The issue is discovering those who truly have a heart for the people. Paul had this same struggle as he writes in Philippians,
Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon so that I too may be encouraged by news about you. For I have no one else like-minded who will care about your interests; all seek their own, not those of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 2:20-21
I say this with full conviction – You cannot serve God, or the saints, and money. Those who are building churches or ministries rely on the saints to fund their work. They expect to be supported in “Full-Time Ministry” even though the scriptures do not validate this concept. Paul states it best in 2 Corinthians 12:15, “I will not burden you, since I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children ought not save up for their parents, but parents for their children. I will most gladly spend and be spent for you.”
Find those who are giving of themselves freely, not exercising “authority,” and with no expectation for monetary return, and imitate their faith. Come alongside them and allow them to nurture Christ within you. Yield your heart to them and you will grow exponentially in Christ. Avoid those who seek to build anything other than Christ in people – for they are self-seeking and will lead you astray.
