When we think about the stuff we have in our lives, it’s easy to forget that there is a spiritual component to stuff. Even if you’re not very religious, you recognize that stuff comes with its own sort of meaning. Sometimes our stuff becomes a sort of hedge against the uncertainty of the future. If I have enough stuff, the thinking goes, then whatever tomorrow brings, I won’t be caught empty-handed - I’ll have what I need.
So, our cabinets are stocked with a year's supply of Rice-a-Roni, and we’ve got enough toothpaste and toilet paper to last us until 2030.
Jesus tells the story in Luke 12:16-21 of a very rich man who had so much he decided he needed bigger barns to put it all in. He thought if he could stockpile all his stuff, then he could finally relax and not worry about the future. Ironically, he had no need to worry about the future because he died that very night.
Our confidence in the future cannot be found double stacked on our garage shelves or in our kitchen pantry. Our confidence about the future depends on how much we trust the only One who knows it.