Ever notice how many influential theologians go by their initials? How 'bout C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, and A.W. Towser.  Well here's a big piece of the Gospel message according to that great thinker P.F. Chang: Sometimes we treat God like dessert.

Last week I headed to P.F. Chang’s Chinese Bistro with friends for dinner and dessert to celebrate a birthday. The conversation was flowing, and we glanced at the dinner menu and decided what we wanted. Almond Chicken sounded great to me. We also ordered appetizers. We downed a few bites of calamari, and lettuce wraps (a personal favorite). After salads and soup, the main course arrived. There was Kung Pao Chicken, Orange Peel Shrimp, Sweet and Sour Pork -- even some healthy dinner salads.

About half way through dinner it hit me: I was starting to feel full. After a few more bites, I realized that dessert was not gonna’ happen for me. When the waitress asked if we wanted to see dessert menus. There were questioning looks around the table, but a few of the heartier appetites agreed to scan the menu. Those desserts sounded great, but I was stuffed. Someone even said that just looking at the menu gave him indigestion.

A couple folks with heartier appetites ended up splitting slices of the “Great Wall of Chocolate:” Six layers of chocolate cake with dark chocolate chips and raspberry sauce. They were so full that they didn’t really enjoy it much. And by the time they got their desserts many of us were ready to go, so they rushed through a few bites and called it good.

That’s when it hit me about God and Dessert.

We start each day like a trip to the restaurant ― fully intending to work God in to a busy schedule crammed full with lettuce wraps, shrimp, and noodles. Maybe the appetizer at your life restaurant is The Today Show, or the morning newspaper. Maybe the main course is a full day at the office, or even a Saturday hike with the family. Maybe my combo platter includes a long commute home. Some folks have a side of 24 or American Idle in the evening, or maybe it’s setting up for dinner over at the church. 

Many things that leave our lives too full for God are great and as healthy as a chicken salad. The problem comes when we’d planned to include dessert at the life restaurant, but those other things leave us so full that we’ve got no room for the sweetest part of life―Our relationship with the risen Christ.
If we’re not intentional about it, our relationship with God will end up being rushed, unsatisfying, or skipped all together after a full menu of life’s business. The question for me is: How do we make sure that our daily trip to the restaurant of life leaves room for God? Once when Jesus was eating at the home of a prominent Pharisee, he had a few things to say about a fancy dinner.

Check out Luke 14:15-23 for Jesus’ ideas on The Great Banquet.