When the Lord established His church (not man’s church), Christ alone was set as “head of the church” (Eph. 5:23). Or, as Peter states, Christ is “the Chief Shepherd” (1 Pet. 5:4). As the Chief Shepherd of His sheep (His church), the Lord “set in order” (cf. Titus 1:5) that there should be elders/shepherds of “the flock of God” (1 Pet. 5:2) (i.e., “the church of God,” Acts 20:28).
We ought to thank God for these men! For they “feed” us (John 21:15-17; Ezek. 34:1-23); they “support the weak” (Acts 20:35); they “labor among” us (1 Thess. 5:12); they “take care of the church” (1 Tim. 3:5); they “hold fast the faithful word” (Titus 1:9); they “exhort and convict those who contradict” (Titus 1:9); they “lead” (Heb. 13:7); they “watch out for your souls” (Heb. 13:17); they will “give account” for the sheep in their charge (Heb. 13:17); they “serve as overseers… willingly [and] eagerly” (1 Pet. 5:2); they make themselves “examples to the flock” (1 Pet. 5:3).
To respect these men is to respect God (and vice versa)! Thank God for elders!