GOD & TEXAS: God-Glory-Gold

When the Spanish explorers came to Texas around 1540, many historians surmise that they had three main goals: God, glory and gold. But probably not in that order.

Such explorers as Pánfilo de Narváez, Alonso Álvarez de Pineda, and Cabeza de Vaca brought with them Catholic friars to advance Christianity. One friar, Father Juan Suárez, starved to death in the failed Narváez expedition and is regarded by some to be the first Catholic martyr in Texas.

Many of these Spanish explorers were also committed to acquiring more land, resources, and subjects for their monarch. When empires expanded, the explorers received well-earned glory and wealth. As an example, Hernando de Soto amassed land grants in Florida and several noble titles including Governor of Cuba.

But the fuerza impulsora or driving force of most expeditions was the search for gold. In the 1530s, Cabeza de Vaca failed to find gold, but heard many rumors from the local tribes of immense quantities of treasure. In the 1540s, his stories spurred other Conquistadors like Francisco Vazquez de Coronado to search for the mythical cities with streets overlaid in gold. Other explorers came but all were unsuccessful in their search for riches.

Unsurprisingly, their failures did not stop others from seeking gold. In his book, Coronado’s Children, newspaper columnist J. Frank Dobie provides a compilation of Texas legends and true stories about buried treasure and lost mines. The book was inspired by the adventures of Coronado and his search for the Seven Cities of Gold.

One account in Dobie’s book presents the apparently true tale of “Old Ben” and the lost Sublett gold mine. In the 1880s, it is said that Ben Sublett would disappear into the Guadalupe Mountains of West Texas and return with a sizeable amount of gold nuggets. Professionals who assayed the treasure said that it was of high quality and value. But “Old Ben” never divulged the location of the mine, and that secret died with him.

And there are many more tantalizing tales to stir the passions of gold-seekers even today. As recently as 2025, gold hunters have successfully scoured the San Saba River, Honey Creek, and the area around Fredericksburg for gold. Prospecting clubs like the Texas Gold Hunters and the Lone Star Treasure Hunters have reported an 18% increase in membership in the last year. People still want gold.

But there are treasures worth far more than gold. King David wrote in Psalm 119:127 ESV, “Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold.” And Jesus taught in Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Perhaps we should stop chasing the gold of earth and seek the treasures of Heaven.

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To purchase the historical non-fiction book GOD and TEXAS by David G. Rose visit www.amazon.com