The movie Chariots of Fire was not primarily about Eric Liddell, the winsome missionary/sprinter who ran “to feel the pleasure of God.”  Rather, it was about the other guy, a Jewish man, Harold Abrahams, fighting to sit on equal terms with the most noble among men.  For Eric, love drove him to the finish line to capture gold in the 1924 Olympics.  For Harold, it was fear of never achieving, that tormented him until he finally did win it all that year.    

We who labor in the vineyard have a choice between these two men.  We can rest in the finished work of Christ, enjoy His love regardless of where we stand on the podium; or we can grind it out in fear of whether we will ever be good enough, have enough, or do enough to feel accomplished.

The following “tests” have helped me keep love as the fuel in my tank.  They uncover for me the deepest roots of my motives for why I do what I do.

 Spoil alert, I almost never ‘pass’ all of them. 

1.    The test of real humility is rest from our work.  This settles the need I have to prove and takes my hands off what I do. Pride is often disguised in production, and when we can say better Hands have done this, and mean it, then we truly find rest from needing to prove our work is good enough.

2.    The test of true Identity is rest in our work.  A subtle difference. This settles the need to produce. When we can separate our worth from our work, there’s a freedom in resting in that work, rather than fretting over whether we’ve done enough.  Gratitude stills restlessness, and brings us joy regardless of the outcome.

3.    The test of the Spirit filled life is rest through our work. This settles the need to feel powerful, in control and esteemed.  Unless we surrender in weakness, receiving what God gives, and demanding nothing more, we will grow weary in the pursuit of perfection, unable or unwilling to give enough. 

4.    The test of true significance is rest on our work. This settles the need to promote.  How tempting to point to ourselves, rather than God for the work we do. We crave the winner’s circle, because it feeds what we are missing from the presence of God.  When our results can rest in His good hands, then we can rest on the work He has done through our hands. It is enough.

5.    The test of Agape Love is rest upon His work.  This settles the need we all have to pretend.  If we are living our true self, then the cross will be mirrored in the work God has done in us.  Crucified with Him, we need his nails, his suffering, his loneliness, ridicule, and humiliation to remind us that the aroma of Agape Love comes as we identify with Him.  This is the home of joy, the energy of love, what God wishes for all of us.