Remember the opening sequence of the Beverly Hillbillies?**
Jed is out “shooting’ at some food” when his shot opens up a huge oil strike (“black gold … Texas Tea”). First thing you know, old Jed’s a millionaire …
At the time, I thought it an unrealistic scenario —I was certain you didn’t find oil that way— But it went with the show being a comedy ... right?
Wrong.
Shortly after moving to Midland, Texas in the early 1980’s, one of the first things I was taught about “oil country” was this: Oil is where you find it.
No one really knows where the stuff is.
Oil. Gold. Silver. The problem with drawing treasures from the earth: no one knows where to find them. Yes, there are people —smart, capable people— who have some ideas about where to find them; and there are technologies that help in the search. But, no one knows exactly where to look.
There’s a reason they call it oil exploration.
So, when I read this week’s selection from 1st Kings, I wasn’t shocked that Solomon might have asked God for riches. Considering that every time someone drills a hole in the earth looking for oil, there is a great chance they will find absolutely nothing ... well, it just doesn’t sound so crazy that people might think they should ask God to give them riches.
But, scripture tells us there is something worth more than the treasures of the earth, and that is what Solomon asked of God: Wisdom. It pleased God that he chose wisdom rather than many other kingly kinds of things he could have requested: riches, long life … the death of his enemies.
We, too, can please God by wanting wisdom. And, unlike silver and gold —or oil— or any other treasure we might wish to come our way, finding wisdom is not a game of chance.
We know right where it is.
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Beverly Hillbillies Opening Sequence:
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Join us Friday morning for DaySpring’s Lectionary breakfast on ZOOM** or in person at Our Breakfast Place (formerly Waco’s “Egg and I” restaurant). Entrance is near the back on the side of the building. We spend from 8:00 to 9:00 reading, discussing, laughing, praying ... and enjoying the breakfast of your choice.
Blessings,
Steve
**Contact me for the Zoom link
NOTE: Zoom allows you to mute the camera if you don’t wish to be seen and to mute the microphone if you don’t wish to speak.
SCRIPTURES FOR SUNDAY & THE COMING WEEK
Find them here:1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14
Psalm 111
Proverbs 9:1-6
Psalm 34:9-14
Ephesians 5:15-20
John 6:51-58
Proper 15 (20) (August 15, 2021)
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
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