“And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have wealth laid up against the years to come. Sit back, relax. Go on, eat and drink and enjoy.’ But God said to him, ‘You’re a fool. This very night your soul will be demanded of you. Who will benefit from all this wealth'” (Luke 12.19-20)?
The Firm was released 30 June 1993. Based on the John Grisham book of the same name, it tells the story of Mitch McDeere, a recent law school graduate who’s played by Tom Cruise. Amidst his many job offers, the sweetest one comes from the small Memphis firm Bendini, Lambert, and Locke. It’s not the typical place to pursue a career, but it’s offer of a lease on a new car, a low-interest mortgage on a house, not to mention a healthy salary convince Mitch and his wife Abby to move south.
Mitch is a child of humble origins. He’s got a brother in jail and is deep in student loans. So, this job is a dream. No, it’s more than a dream, it’s what he’s always wanted. Sure, he’ll have to work long, horrible hours, but he’ll make partner, pay off the house, probably take vacations around the world, and live the life his family never could. Sure, Abby’s got some concerns about the culture around this particular firm, but this is the brass ring.
Of course, we learn that there’s a reason this little firm is so concerned about insuring none of its employees walk away. Turns out, they handle the accounting for a certain family, one who can’t trust just any lawyers with their taxes. Before he’s even passed the Bar, Mitch finds himself approached by the FBI who need his help. And their offer is one Mitch cannot refuse, unless he wants to go to jail.
Besides being a film about how you should pay attention to your wife’s instincts, The Firm is a story about getting everything we hoped for, everything we thought we’d need. All those things we think will keep us safe in an uncertain and capricious world. It’s about finding that when the storm comes and the wind blows, we can just as easily find ourselves naked and unsheltered in the rain.
This is what lies at the heart of the story of the rich man and the storehouse that Jesus told. There’s nothing wrong with having extra batteries, a few cases of water, and a full charge on your cell phone, of course. But it is a warning about where we put our faith, and the false gods we think will protect us. It challenges us to think about the idols in our life, particularly wealth, that we believe will protect us from our world turning upside down. And, like the film, it’s a reminder that safety can be an illusion. And, if we’re not careful, may be what makes not just our lives but our souls vulnerable.
Mitch, in the course of the film, realizes he could lose everything, including Abby. All the security he thought was his now feels like a trap. His idol has stolen his freedom.
And he has to decide if his fears or his god own him.
Incarnate One, unlike the gods of this world, I was made in your image, you were not made in mine. Give me courage to face the fears and uncertainty of this world without the false security of the idols my hands can make. And help me put my faith in you and not what is in my storehouse.