Okay, so the title is a little exaggerated. A good story is always a little exaggerated as well, so hang with me on this one and we will get to the application of the story. So a little about the Beverly Hillbillies…
To start, here are the beginning words of the theme song:
Come and listen to my story about a man named Jed. A poor mountaineer, barely kept his family fed. And then one day he was shootin’ at some food, and up through the ground come a bubblin crude. Oil that is, black gold, Texas tea.
Well the first thing you know ol Jed’s a millionaire…
Beverly Hillbillies Shoot to Number One
A little-known fact is ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’ rose to number one in the ratings faster than any show ever – in just three weeks! This was about a low-income family suddenly having millions of dollars. Though they moved to Beverly Hills, known for some of the world’s priciest real estate in the hills above Sunset Boulevard, they never changed.
The thing that made you laugh about this comedy series is the family had all the money in the world, they stayed true to who they were. Money didn’t change them, nor did the neighborhood they moved into.
Carmen and I both came from humble backgrounds. My parents were factory workers. They worked hard and our family vacations consisted of tent camping somewhere. Even after I scaled the heights of college, I went into full-time ministry making just enough to meet my needs and nothing more.
Our Business Takes Off
Though we didn’t strike oil like the Beverly Hillbillies, Carmen and I worked hard with our business following my years in ministry. Our business was finally taking off. At that same time, our kids were now young teenagers. Up until that point, we had all four kids squeezed into two bedrooms in a tiny 780 sq. ft. house (plus one small room in the basement). So we decided it was time to upsize as our kids needed their space.
At that point, we moved into a 4000 sq. ft. house with 5 bedrooms and 3 baths, and lots of extra space in a neighborhood called Lexington Farms. Yes, quite the change for a little boy who grew up in a small shingled house. Then as a young man living in a tiny bungalow with a wife and four kids.
The Beverly Hillbillies of Lexington Farms
Soon after moving into our new big home, I was out in the yard working. I had my rubber boots on, along with a T-shirt with the sleeves cut off, shorts, and a bandana. As I’m working, one of my neighbor’s road by on his bike with his dog (on a leash) trotting next to him. He had his sleek sweatsuit on. He said hi and then road off laughing (I am sure). I think he rushed home (3 houses down) to his wife and said, “Honey, you gotta come out and see this new neighbor we have!” 🤣
By the way, that guy (on the bike with his dog) and his wife became some of our best friends!
I have to admit, I was trying to be something I was not in our new upscale (to me) neighborhood. Keeping up with the Jones’s as they say. Soon after our youngest graduated from high school, we moved out from the big fancy house and neighborhood, and back into a 780 sq. ft. house. A book that impacted me was by Bill Hybels called Simplify. Not only did we downsize, but we simplified many other things in our life.
Stay True to Who You Are
I think the Beverly Hillbillies kept it simple. Though they moved into a higher-end neighborhood, they didn’t allow their money or their new friends to complicate things. They stayed true to who they were.
Challenge of the Day: Stay true to who you are in Christ Jesus. So be it.
