Who Is A Hireling?
In his teaching, under the figure of the sheep and the shepherd, which is recorded in the tenth chapter of John, the Lord recognizes thieves and robbers as a threat to the sheep. These are external forces which would gain possession of the sheep, separating them from the master and thereby destroying them. These are not the only threat to the sheep for the Lord also gives attention to another which he describes as a hireling. The danger posed by the hireling is not in what he does but rather, in what he fails to do.
Who is a hireling? The Lord answers the question by naming and describing this character in his teaching: "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep. He that is a hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf snatcheth them, and scattereth them: he fleeth because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep". (John 10:11-13). The hireling is not a true shepherd even though he may be called by the name, occupy the position, and receive the hire of a shepherd. His despicable character is revealed in his actions when danger comes — "he fleeth because he is a hireling and careth not for the sheep". A hireling "careth not for the sheep" but for their fleece. With the hireling the chief thing is the hire, not the welfare of the sheep. When personal interests are threatened the hireling will abandon the sheep and leave them to be snatched by the "wolf", rather than stand and defend them to the jeopardy of his selfish interests. What is your chief interest? Do you truly care for the sheep or only for the glory and money which the sheep can provide for you? Is your "influence" more important to you than the safety of the sheep? Can you "stand" and contend for the faith even when the "wolf" gets some of your meetings canceled? Danger exposes the hireling for what he is — his hireling character is revealed by his actions, he fleeth.
The fact that one receives hire does not make that one a hireling, "for the laborer is worthy of his hire". (Luke 10:7). The Lord ordained "that they that proclaim the gospel should live of the gospel" (1 Cor. 9:14). A true gospel preacher can receive hire without being accounted by God as a hireling, but if the hire is the reason for preaching, the preacher will preach whatever is necessary to gain hire; he is a hireling.