I am grieved when I watch these preachers on tv who take advantage of people who are searching for help. Jesus called them sheep without a shepherd. May have looked like this.
There was once a small flock of sheep who decided they needed a shepherd. They began to look for a shepherd and in the search they met one they all liked. He was big and strong and seemed to have everything they wanted. He seemed like he knew a lot about helping sheep and seemed to care for their well being a great deal. They decided to make this shepherd their care taker. Things were going great, the flock was well fed and taken care of, and it grew in size. The flock seemed healthy, they were happy with things. Occasionally a sheep would go missing, but there were always new sheep to take their place, so things were ok. The sheep didn’t ask too many questions, they were just happy with how things were.
One day, a sheep had some concerns. He had seen the shepherd with a sheep that suddenly when missing. He also noticed some sheep got better grass than others. The shepherd seemed more concerned with the sheep who could produce the most wool. There seemed to be some sheep who were left out, even isolated. They couldn’t do as much or give enough. Sometimes the sheep who came in seemed a little strange, they looked like sheep, but they didn’t act like sheep. They seemed wolf like. The inquisitive sheep decided to talk to the shepherd.
The little sheep found a moment when the shepherd was alone and came to talk about his concerns. The shepherd listened and encouraged the sheep to come talk to him another time, when they could sit down. He was busy planning a trip for better grass and cool water for the flock. The little sheep agreed to come back later that day.
Around dusk, the little sheep walked into the rocky place where the shepherd would meet with sheep. It was isolated and it made the little sheep a little nervous. He approached the shepherd who had a strange look in his eye. Suddenly some other sheep appeared. He recognized them as the sheep who didn’t seem quite right. Slowly the sheep began to shed their clothing, revealing themselves to be wolves. The little sheep was panicked and looked to his shepherd for help, but could now see under the shepherd appearance was in fact the largest wold he had ever seen. There was no where to run for the little sheep, he now understood why sheep disappeared.
Unfortunately, no one recognized the wolf until they became his dinner. The little sheep learned too late.
Oh be careful little lamb who you trust
Oh be careful little lamb who you trust
For the wolf, he wants a meal
And to get it he will steal
so be careful little lamb who you trust.
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Matthew 7:15