|
|
|
Every human in
our world experiences moments of self-reflection, doubt and skepticism.
We search for answers that help us define God's role in our lives and
our relevance to the universe and beyond. These are not new questions.
The Urantia Book can be a valuable source of enlightenment and comfort
when a soul is faced with Life's Toughest Questions. Click on a question
you've struggled with and discover The Urantia Book's perspective on
some of life's most difficult and frequently-asked questions.
|
It
is not wrong to want material wealth or possessions. Nowhere did Jesus
teach that we have to renounce material success in order to be his
followers; only to his
apostles, and those who would be his apostles,
did he counsel a renunciation of material possessions in order to live
in spiritual community. It is one's inmost motivation that
matters in this regard.
Here are some Urantia Book references that will give you more
information about Jesus' attitude towards wealth, and those who possess
it:
After Jesus had counseled the rich
young man, Matadormus, Jesus and
Peter had this exchange:
(163:3.3)
As they went off by themselves, Jesus was grieved that
Matadormus did not remain with them, for he greatly loved him. And when
they had walked down by the lake, they sat there beside the water, and
Peter, speaking for the twelve (who were all present by this time),
said: "We are troubled by your words to the rich young man. Shall we
require those who would follow you to give up all their worldly goods?"
And Jesus said: "No, Peter, only those who would become
apostles, and
who desire to live with me as you do and as one family. But the Father
requires that the affections of his children be pure and undivided.
Whatever thing or person comes between you and the love of the truths
of the kingdom, must be surrendered. If one's wealth does not invade
the precincts of the soul, it is of no consequence in the spiritual
life of those who would enter the kingdom."
(163:2.10)
Riches have nothing directly to do with entrance into
the kingdom of heaven, but the love of wealth does. The spiritual
loyalties of the kingdom are incompatible with servility to
materialistic mammon. Man may not share his supreme loyalty to a
spiritual ideal with a material
devotion.
Further, Jesus said:
(165:4.5)"
... it is not a sin to have honorable wealth; but it
is a sin if you convert the wealth of material possessions into
treasures which may absorb your interests and divert your affections
from devotion to the spiritual pursuits of the kingdom. There is no sin
in having honest possessions on earth provided your treasure is in
heaven, for where your treasure is there will your heart be also."
Jesus spoke further on wealth and its uses and drawbacks in his parable
called Dividing
the Inheritance .
And, Jesus did offer a good deal of advice to his followers
regarding the
proper use of material wealth, if we should chance to acquire
it.
In the study of the above links, you should be able to clearly see the
proper attitude that a spiritually inclined soul should have towards the
desire for material wealth and possessions.
Thank you for this important question.
|
|
|
