Class and Resources

I was jogging near Bidwell Parkway on a spetacular autumn afternoon and thinking about the ways my friends and my neighbors and I 'classify' people.  I'm talking about socioeconomic classification and how it apparently correlates with crime, political responsibility and emphasis on education.  Somehow we (and most of society) see a 2011 Land Rover in the driveway and we think, "nice family."  A few blocks down the street, the scenery changes drastically, we see (and probably hear first) a 1992 Honda Civic and think, "drug dealers."  And we also think "Peurto Rican" or "Black."

Stereotypes are interesting, because they are often right, but they are so often used to generalize blindly and unfairly.  The truth is, there are many factors that might determine a person's lifestyle and behavior.  Education is important, but so is work ethic.  Genetics are important, but so is environment.  Culture and ethnicity are important, but so are local community and government.

So I decided that my 'classiness' and the classiness of the people around me is least of all dependent on our financial resources.  It is far more dependent on our emotional resources, our intellectual resources, and our spiritual resources.

Don't misinterpret that last statement; I don't think that the resources a person possesses determine his value.  In fact, I think that the truest and most ultimate value comes from God, and he says "blessed are the poor in spirit."  That seems to say that it's the people who have nothing to offer--the ones who are completely devoid of useful resources in this world--are most likely to receive God's presence and His love.  I am talking about 'classiness' in terms of the choices we make, the things we value, the pursuits we invest our time and money into.

As an example, If I spend all my time and money trying to make more money, then that defines me.  I have just stated by my actions that the most important thing in the world--the thing I want my life to be about--is money.  And therefore my 'class,' as in my accepted position in society, is as a money-grubber.  (Whoops...slightly pejorative term there...)  But if I spend my time and money trying to heal my emotional hang-ups and then the emotional hang-ups of the people around me, I have shown by my choices and values that my accepted position in society is as a healer.  A peace-maker.  A community-builder.  Seeking only and ever to improve my own emotional resources might be selfish, but I'm convinced it's still better than pursuing financial resources.

Part of it, then, is where your heart is in the whole thing.  Because someone could spend all their time and money trying to make more money for other people.  But then, it wouldn't be about the money, would it?  It would be about them believing that money is the answer to people's problems, so ultimately it would be about them wanting to fix other people's problems.  Which is awesome.  Can we blame them if their solution to other people's problems is wrong?

I think one of the reasons its risky to have lots of money (God doesn't say money is the root of all evil, he says its the love of money) is that it becomes so easy for us to see that money as 'ours.'  I earned it, I saved it, I used it wisely.  Now it's mine to do what I want with!  Emotional resources, intellectual resources, spiritual resources are often out of our control.  At some point, no matter how hard I may have worked to get through college, I have to admit that my intelligence and ability to learn did not originate with me.

So I want my position in society (class!) to be about improving other people's emotional, intellectual and spiritual resources.  Because Jesus said, "you cannot serve both God and money."  And money isn't the answer to our problems.  Jesus is.