Shepherds Need to Know the Condition of the Flock

Understanding What God's People Need

Proverbs 27:23-24 undoubtedly refers to literal sheep but as shepherds entrusted with spiritual sheep, we would do well to heed the warning of these verses:

Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever and a crown is not secure for all generations.

To get the greatest yield from the sheep, you need to know the condition of the flock. Don't put off investing in and nurturing what you have because you may not always have opportunity.
 
How well do you know the sheep? We're talking about truly knowing them, being acquainted with them, being able to distinguish and discern what they need.

What is the Condition of the Flock?

The Hebrew word for "condition" means "face." The contours and details of someone's face is what truly helps us to distinguish one person from another. When we talk about knowing their condition, it means we're well enough acquainted with them that we can identify the specifics of their lives.

Once we know their condition, we can "give careful attention" to their needs. That phrase literally means "to set your heart to." The Hebrew word "leb," translated "attention" in the NIV refers to our inner being ... our heart, our soul. Once we know the condition of the sheep, we'll know how to pour our lives into them where it's needed.
 

Perhaps we don't see results in ministry
because our efforts aren't targeted
to the condition of the sheep.

We may have top notch programs and engage in a flurry of activity but still yield little difference when we don't do what we do based on the profile of the sheep. In ministry, one size does not fit all. Ministry must get beyond using another church's or organization's pre-packaged program if it does not fit the particular condition of your church or group no matter how good and popular it may seem.