Money is just an easy method to keep score. So we substitute it for other things. Doesn't mean that it is better or worse than other things, it just is.

One of the key areas that the gospel is a huge force for good in the world is that it teaches that we should only keep score against ourselves and no one else. One of the key areas that the church is not necessarily a force for good is that members use even the church as a way to keep score against those in their community (church community or wider community) and just substitute gospel measurements for other measurements. That is the primary reason that the WoW and tithing are so defining of Mormonism, even though they are minor things in the grand scheme of things. They are easy to keep score.