The Beverly Hillbillies became popular in the early 1960s when its hero, Jed Clampett, rocketed to sudden wealth at the discovery of oil on his homestead in the Ozark mountains of Missouri. Upon realizing that he was a multimillionaire, Jed was persuaded to sell his rural property and move to Beverly Hills. Chaos, misunderstandings, and hilarity ensued, keeping audiences laughing for almost ten years.
The poverty-stricken Clampett family lived for decades on the very land that housed what later became their financial security, reminding me that many Christians spend much of their spiritual lives without ever fully realizing the treasure openly “hidden” in God’s Word. Are YOU a kind of “spiritual Clampett”?
When approached by the oil company with the “news” about the oil on his property, Jed Clampett was unsurprised. He explained to the surveyor that he and his family simply had no way to drill, transport, and process the “Texas Tea.” Many believers have heard for years that God’s Word contains powerful spiritual truths yet seem unsure or unwilling to do the work necessary to mine its treasures.
The Clampett family knew the resource of “black gold” was filling their backyard but had no idea how to access the benefits it could provide. In the same way, Christians often find that their spiritual muscles have atrophied with applying little to no effort in studying Scripture. It is easier to skim the surface of God’s Truth with only occasional visits to church or quick reads of a daily verse or two.
Since the Clampetts were uneducated, they relied on an oil company and bankers to provide a contract and explanation of their previously unknown wealth. Today, access to God’s Word is readily available with multiple translations, languages, and study guides. As we open and immerse ourselves in the Bible, the Holy Spirit illuminates what we don’t understand, helping us to implement the lessons we learn.
Don’t be satisfied living as a “spiritual Clampett”. Choose to spend daily time cultivating and processing the valuable resource of Scripture available to you. The rewards will far outweigh any mansion in Beverly Hills!
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