Another key to successful community is money. It’s how the world works. But the modern implementation of the system is broken.

God has given each of us talents and passions. It only makes sense that he would intend for us to put those things to use. From mechanical work to gardening, technology to the arts, we all have a way to contribute income without serving a corporate system.

Man was not made to sit in cubicles staring at plastic screens all day. In order to seize the life that God has given us we need to deny the impulse to submerge ourselves in the mainstream system. The obvious cost is the high income. This is why community is so important.

One person probably cannot make enough money using his or her talents to balance a budget in a traditional household. But if 6, 8 or 12 of us share the cost of a single household, then we can get by. The cost of adding members to an existing household is a minuscule fraction of the cost of maintaining a separate household.

We must remember that the primary purpose of talents or money is to serve God. Our talents and passions should be available first to those who need free services and secondly to the pursuit of income.

Not only does striving after our passions promote positive mental and emotional health, but it also leaves more time available to work within the community. In community, it’s unnecessary for any of us to spend 60 hours each week trying to earn an income. Because we’re all contributing to one community, we can “work” much less than that, and be available for more meaningful, non-monetary efforts.

Finally, as Americans we are work obsessed. It’s so easy to allow our spiritual life, our families and our community come second behind our work. Our aim is to reverse that. Employment should be a supplement to the spirit and the community, not the other way around.

We are responsible for providing for ourselves and our families, but when things are correctly prioritized that’s a small feat.