1 Peter 5:1 says, The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:  Peter identified himself as one of the elders and as one who had witnessed the sufferings of Christ.  He did not identify himself as someone in authority over the other elders.  Peter was a man who had faith enough to step out of the boat and onto the water, but was also a man who lacked the faith to stand with Jesus when He was arrested.  Still, after Peter accepted Jesus as his Savior, he was saved forever.  When we are born again through faith in Christ, we are saved forever.  Even if we falter in our walk with Christ, we are still saved.  Like Peter, we have no authority over other Christians simply because we are saved.  Verse two states, Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;  Peter was speaking to the elders.  They did have a responsibility to feed the flock, or those fellow believers that God had given them the responsibility to minister to.  The elders were to have the responsibility for overseeing other believers, not by claiming power over them, but by reaching out to them with the love of God.  Elders, or as we might say preachers and deacons are not called to be dictators over other Christians.  They are never to assume a position of leadership and use that position to gain the material things of this world.  Verse three adds, Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.  Those who are called to be pastors or deacons, leaders in the church, are never to view themselves as superior to other Christians.  They are simply sinners saved by grace themselves who are called to a particular position of service in God's kingdom.  They are called on to be an example to others which means that they are the do all that they do to glorify God.  Verse four concludes, And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.  Peter told the elders then that if they were obedient to the will of God, that they would receive an everlasting crown of glory when Christ returns.  I don't believe that we should work for Christ for personal rewards, either here nor in the world to come though.  All that we do should be done so that God will be glorified.