The Lord Jesus Christ has redeemed and exalted all Genuine Christian believers to become kings and priests. The Implication here is that He has granted us Divine Partnership in the Absolute Administration of His Universe for all of Eternity, a Trust which even transcends the realm of time itself (2 Tim. 2:12). Throughout the Entire Holy Bible, it is worthy of note that a Crown is adequate proof that someone is qualified to reign with Christ Jesus. There are different types of Crowns referred to in the Holy Scriptures and one of such is referred to as the Crown of Glory, which is also known as the Shepherd's Crown.
According to the Holy Scriptures, the Shepherd's Crown is essentially the Reward of the Lord Jesus given by Him at the Judgment Seat of Christ to every individual Christian believer who has been found Faithful in the area of Spiritual Oversight. In other words, this is His Reward to those Christian believers who Faithfully execute the office of a Spiritual elder or pastor specifically as well as those who Faithfully watch over a group or groups of Christian believers placed under their care. Those believers who qualify for this Crown are those who manifest the Moral Attributes of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd Himself Who feeds and cares for His Own Sheep (Jn. 21:15-17). This requires the cultivation and manifestation of a Pastoral heart. The way a believer may prophesy without necessarily being a Prophet or win souls without being an Evangelist is the same way one can groom and care for others Spiritually without being ordained as a Pastor. Simply put, any Genuine Disciple of Jesus Christ can qualify for the Shepherd's Crown as long as he's willing to pay the price of grooming and growing His Flock.
King David was established by the Lord God Almighty as the most powerful king over the entire Nation of Israel, wielding tremendous power and uncommon influence. However, he was willing to sacrifice his life and the lives of his family members in order to avert a plague which was the direct consequence of his unauthorized census of Israel. Being a good shepherd at heart, he appealed to God on behalf of his subjects, asking, "But these sheep, what have they done?" (2 Sam. 24:17). Only a True Pastor with the heart of a shepherd would have that mentality. The Holy Scriptures admonish us to diligently know the state of our flocks and attend to our herds because "RICHES are not forever, nor does A CROWN endure to all generations" (Prov. 27:24). From the aforementioned verse, King Solomon, the son of David, revealed two major wrong motives behind aspiring to the Pastoral office:
RICHES OR WEALTH
We have a Divine Responsibility to provide Spiritual Oversight because of the outcome rather than the income (1 Pet. 5:2). The endgame here is that the former would eventually determine the latter.
A CROWN OR POPULARITY
Whenever we lift up Jesus in the lives of our people, He would draw all men, Faithful Pastors inclusive, unto Himself (Jn. 12:32). It is imperative that we beware of entering into Ministry solely as a result of fame or accolades. Rather we must magnify the Lord Jesus in the lives of those people over whom we watch for He would exalt us in their sight. Let the Lord Jesus and His Passion stay firmly at the Centre of your life as a Genuine Christian shepherd (1 Cor. 2:2). May we receive a Crown of Glory at His Appearing "that does not fade away" (1 Pet. 5:4).