The Next Task

READ: GENESIS 1:26–2:3; MATTHEW 11:28-30; LUKE 10:38-42

Alistair hefted his saw and adjusted his vision screen over his eyes. As he made the final cut, the virtual gift box opened in the corner of his vision screen and a few digitized fireworks exploded. Though he knew the praise was only automatic, it still felt good. A banner floated across the screen: “Congratulations! You have earned one Silver Coin.”

The screen changed, leaving only a large button saying: “Choose your next task.”

Alistair had completed fifty laborious tasks that day. His work was mostly centered around the district’s pomapple orchard, where he harvested hybrid fruit and worked the land. Even though he was tired, he clicked the button. He prided himself on being a hard worker. He felt anxious when he didn’t have things to do. About an hour later, he completed his next task of harvesting all the ripe fruit from a tree. He waited for the gift box in the corner of his vision screen, but there was nothing. No “congratulations” message and no silver coin.

And no next task.

For the first time in weeks, Alistair turned off his vision screen. He looked around the orchard at his coworkers, all of whom were still working diligently even as darkness fell and the cool night air wrapped its chilly hands around them. Well, all except one.

He saw that Theodora was not working on her next task. Instead, she was wandering through the orchard, running her hands down the tree bark, smelling the flowers that grew along the path, and occasionally eating the fruit from the branches.

“Is your vision screen not functioning either?” he asked.

“It’s functioning. But I turned it off to walk around the orchard.”

“But you don’t get any coin.” Alistair was baffled.

But Theodora seemed perfectly content. Joyful even. With a smile, she said, “When I look at the trees, I see the Creator’s hand. He has crafted this fruit and this land so beautifully for us. That is why we take care of it, because it is His.”

Alistair thought a moment. Then, taking the fruit he had harvested in his hand for the first time, Alistair took a bite. His eyes widened in delight. • Emily McDonough

• Have you ever felt like Alistair in today’s allegorical story? Do you feel like you always need to have something to do or work on? Why do you think that is?

• Work is not inherently a bad thing. In fact, work can be a wonderful way to live into our God-given gifts and express our love for God and for the people around us. But work can easily become an idol when we look to it for our sense of identity and purpose. The truth is, God loves us no matter what we do or how productive we are. And He invites us to enjoy His good creation, knowing we could never earn all His wonderful gifts, yet He delights to give them to us—gifts like food, beauty, and friendship. We can enjoy these good things freely when we rest in Jesus. He already did all the work that was needed to save us when He died on the cross and rose from the grave. We don’t need to strive to be “worthy” of His good gifts, because He has already given them to us through the cross. In your daily life, where do you find joy, peace, and rest in the world God has created? How could you take a break from the busyness this week in order to enjoy His good gifts as you rest in Jesus?

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 (NIV)