Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart.  Jeremiah 24:7, NKJV

Have you ever noticed how much our interactions with others depend upon what we believe about their character? If we trust someone, we draw near; if we fear they’ll hurt us, we pull away.

In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus tells a parable about a man who, before leaving on a journey, entrusts his goods to three of his own servants. Two servants take what the master gives and use it faithfully. The third, however, buries his talent in the ground.

When the master returns, the first two servants are affirmed for the ways they who not only received the master’s trust but used it faithfully.  But the third servant has a very different story — a story of inactivity instead of productivity.  

Why?  Because of what he believes about the master’s character.  He says, “I knew you were a hard man.” His fear of the master shapes everything. He doesn’t act out of love or trust; he hides what was graciously given to him.  

The servant’s inaction exposed how little he knew of the master’s true heart.

Here’s the beautiful truth:
Our Master — Jesus — is not harsh. He is generous, trusting, and full of joy. He loves to share His work with us.  And more than that, He is pleased to share Himself with us (cf. Rom. 8:32)! He entrusts us with gifts, time, influence, and opportunities — not to test us, but to include us in His joy.

When we really know Him, faithfulness stops feeling like a chore. It becomes a privilege.

We don’t serve to earn His approval; we serve because we already have His approval.

Every small act of love — every prayer, every word of kindness, every moment we use our gifts to bless others — becomes a way of saying, “Lord, I trust You. I know You’re good, and I want others to know that too.”  

And when we let this faithfulness ready our hearts for eternity, we’ll one day hear God’s affirmation:  “Well done. Enter into the joy of your Lord.”

That’s not the joy of success — it’s the joy of relationship. The same joy that fills the Master’s heart is the joy He longs to share with us.

🙏 Prayer

“Lord, please give us a heart to really know You (Jer. 24:7).  Lead us to gratefully receive what You’ve given.  May we show that gratitude in ways that bless others.”

🌿 Small Group/Family Reflection

1. What do you think the “Master” in Jesus’ story is really like?
2. What are some ways we can grow to know what Jesus is really like?  Or ways we can help others know what He’s really like?
3. What’s one “small talent” (something God has given you personally) that you can use this week to bring someone joy or to serve God?

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