To know Him is to Love Him

Remember the story in Matthew that Jesus told about the master who gave his servants the talents. He gave the first servant five talents, the second two talents and the third servant one talent. The master went away for awhile and then returned. When he called the servants back to him, the servant who began with five had gained five more, the servant with two added two more, but the servant who received the one talent went and hid it in the ground. He had no gain to speak of.
This last servant used the excuse that his master was a harsh man and proceeded to bury his money in fear. I look at these verses and wonder how much this servant actually knew the master or perhaps he just did not truly understand what was being asked of him. I also think about how many times we do not do anything for God out of fear that it might not be good enough or we may possibly fail.
The good news is we can know our God intimately. We do not have to wonder what he wants us to do. He does not want us to serve him out of fear, but of love. If we are approaching our God on a regular basis to get to know him, this fear of him being a harsh God, who is just waiting for us to fail so he can punish us, will go away. To know him is to love him. Our God loves a broken and willing heart, one that desires to be obedient in using our talents to please him.
Is there something God is leading you to do but you have been afraid to step out?
Get to know him more and the desire to please him will out weigh your spirit of fear.
Matt. 25:14-30: The parable of the Talents
II Timothy 1:6,7- "Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear: but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."