The Whole Pie

             How well I remember sitting around the table with a visiting missionary family and several other guests for a dessert night! The discussion eventually turned to priorities, when someone said something about putting God first, family next, and ourselves last.

            I was somewhat surprised when this missionary wife jumped in with this question: “What is the chief purpose for us being here?”

            Most were quiet, afraid to answer incorrectly, while another hesitated then said, “To serve God?”

            “To glorify Him,” the missionary wife said. “Picture a pie.” She pointed to one on the table. “Some Christians have been taught to serve God, then family, then themselves.” She pretended to cut a huge piece of pie for God, a mid-sized for family, and a sliver for self. “This is flawed thinking.”

            I listened intently. Flawed thinking? But I’ve been taught that—especially all my years at a strict Bible college where no one dare question legalistic instruction.

            She continued. “If we’re to do all to the glory of God and all our service belongs to Him, then His is the whole pie, not just a piece.”

            “Then how do you know how much is what?” I asked. 

            “On the mission field, one day we might have more responsibilities in ministry, and that may be a really big piece of the pie. Another day, family might need more than the ministry,” she said pretending to cut the pie elsewhere. “There’ll also be times we must take care of ourselves so we don’t burnout.” She pretended to cut another slice, not a sliver. “It’s all God’s. The whole pie. When you think of it that way, the pieces will be cut different sizes, depending on the day. Ministry, family, ourselves—all for His Glory.”

            This family returned to the United States from Africa every five years, making their furlough rounds to supporting churches and sharing what God was doing on the mission field. There were fruits from their labor, and most of their children handled life well. One did not. (Timewise this was when some mission boards required missionaries’ children to attend boarding school in Europe.) When all this father and mother could do to help that child at such a distance failed, they made the tough decision to head Stateside.

            I have little doubt they received some criticism for this. After all, hadn’t they committed their lives to serve the Lord in Africa? Yet, this couple took care of family at a most critical time. It “saved” this child. They’d given God the whole pie years earlier. They were still doing so, but now the pieces needed to be sliced differently—but all to the glory of God.

            In this particular case, another ministry sprung from this decision to “come home.” Because of their struggling child’s experience, this couple realized other MKs (missionary kids) hurt too. So, from their stateside mission field they reached out and for the remainder of their years helped multitudes of MKs.

            When we struggled with a troubled daughter and complications in her and our lives, we took a leave of absence from ministry. Some people eyed this as failure and let us know so. But at that time the chief need was this child. By pouring into her then, we felt we were honoring God because He wanted our child to be well and our parenting to honor Him. After all, hadn’t we dedicated her to the Lord and made a promise to Him?

            There’s always ministry to be done. Aways lost souls to win. But at what expense if a minister is sold out for God and sells out his family?

            A beautiful example of what I’m trying to express is our pastor. Totally dedicated to the Lord and his church family. Then a sadness—rapid deterioration of his beloved wife’s health—to the point she needed a great deal of care. He didn’t hesitate in making the decision to focus on the earthly love of his life—the one he’d said “I do” to more than fifty years earlier.

            Pastor expressed, “I want to be there for her—for as long as she needs me, however long that is.” This meant stepping back from the pulpit from time to time—and could realistically mean doing so more in the future as he keeps his commitment to his bride.

            That’s the whole pie with pieces sized differently depending on the need. And as our pastor lovingly cares for his wife, he glorifies God through this humble act of worship.

            If you’ve been raised in a legalistic setting, you’ll struggle with the concept I’ve presented and will either declare me a heretic or ask God to free you from that teaching. (I hope the latter.) I’m sure, however, we all agree on one thing—that God is deserving of all the glory—the whole pie!

            And to our pastor, thank you for your example—giving glory to God in ALL you do. How pleased He is and accepting of your worship! 

Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee.

Take my moments and my days; let them flow in endless praise…

Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of thy love.

Take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for thee…

Take my love; my Lord, I pour at thy feet its treasure store.

Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for thee—ever only all, for thee.

(from the hymn “Take My Life” by Frances R. Havergal, public domain, 1874)

 

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies

a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”

Romans 12:1 NKJV

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

Giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Colossians 3:17 NKJV

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