The difference between material wealth and True wealth

South Africans must defeat the tendency towards worshipping personal wealth, said President Thabo Mbeki on Saturday.
He was presenting the fourth Nelson Mandela annual lecture at Wits University in Johannesburg.

President Mbeki said:

"Every day, and during every hour of our time beyond sleep, the demons embedded in our society, that stalk us at every minute, seem always to beckon each one of us towards a realisable dream and nightmare”

In the Bahá'í Writings Bahá’u'lláh sees wealth as

“ …a mighty barrier between the seeker and his desire, the lover and his beloved. The rich, but for a few, shall in no wise attain the court of His presence nor enter the city of content and resignation. Well is it then with him, who, being rich, is not hindered by his riches from the eternal kingdom, nor deprived by them of imperishable dominion. By the Most Great Name! The splendour of such a wealthy man shall illuminate the dwellers of heaven even as the sun enlightens the people of the earth.”

The Hidden Words, Persian no 53


Bahá’u'lláh also shows us that

“Man's distinction lieth not in ornaments or wealth, but rather in virtuous behaviour and true understanding.”

Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 57


And ‘Abdu'l Bahá further explains

“....the honour and exaltation of man must be something more than material riches. Material comforts are only a branch, but the root of the exaltation of man is the good attributes and virtues which are the adornments of his reality. These are the divine appearances, the heavenly bounties, the sublime emotions, the love and knowledge of God; universal wisdom, intellectual perception, scientific discoveries, justice, equity, truthfulness, benevolence, natural courage and innate fortitude; the respect for rights and the keeping of agreements and covenants; rectitude in all circumstances; serving the truth under all conditions; the sacrifice of one's life for the good of all people; kindness and esteem for all nations; obedience to the teachings of God; service in the Divine Kingdom; the guidance of the people, and the education of the nations and races. This is the prosperity of the human world! This is the exaltation of man in the world! This is eternal life and heavenly honour!”

Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, p. 79