A:  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.”