Countercultural Community

I'm reading in James in my ESV Study Bible.  The note for 1:9-11 addresses the rich and poor.  Though the world regards the poor in a negative light and values the riches of man, God loves the poor and Jesus tells us, "You cannot serve God and money."  In this way, we are to be a countercultural community - one that values the poor and gives no brownie points to the rich.

It's seen time and time again how riches destroy a person.  Riches can easily foster pride and greed.  It's madness.  Yes, they can afford more things for themself and their family, but beyond that, why would it be of any value?  Why would it add value to a person?  It doesn't.

Let's replace money with corn.  Early American society was agricultural, so let's say instead of collecting a lot of money one collects a lot of corn.  Wouldn't it be silly for the person who has a lot of corn to assume that he's worth more than someone who has less corn?  It's corn.  Yes, back then it meant that he could trade his corn for wood or cheese.  It's still corn, and it has nothing to do with the worth or character of the collector. 

Money is the same.  It's paper with funny pictures on it.  The one who collects more paper with funny pictures on it can trade it for a chair or a hamburger.  Does the paper with funny pictures on it inerrantly make the collector better than someone who has less paper with funny pictures on it?  It's a comical thought, really.  People puff themselves up because they have collected a lot of paper with funny pictures on it.  That's the fundamental truth of it.

It makes much more sense that those who puff themselves up over paper are confused and maybe a little crazy.  The corn or paper only tempts the collector and reveals the true nature of their soul.  One must ask themself, do I really want that temptation?  Am I ready to test the true nature of my soul?  It's noble to collect paper with funny pictures only to give it to someone else who has less opportunity to attain it.  Let that person trade their paper with funny pictures for something they really need.  When one's true nature is to love more than to collect funny pictures, that person should become a collector.  That person alone.  Doesn't that just make sense?

So let us live counterculturally.  Let us always, always remember that the soul is eternal and wealth is an illusion.  Live for the eternal.