James gives a warning for those who are already rich. The wealth of the rich, like their clothes, will rot. Their beautiful clothes will become moth-eaten and even their gold and silver corrode. Wealth is not meant for storing but for sharing with the needy. Rather sarcastically James tells the rich, "You have stored up treasure for the last days." On the judgement day their selfish misuse of the goods that came their way will testify against them. "As often - in your wealth - you neglected the hungry, the thirsty, the sick, the prisoner, you neglected Me," are the words they will hear. But the real sin of the rich is not just that they store wealth for themselves but that they have become wealthy at the expense of others who were deprived of their most basic needs. "You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure; you fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter," says James in mockery. The wicked rich are like cattle that continue to fatten themselves for the day when they are to be slaughtered, totally unaware of coming destruction. "I did nothing!" the rich man might have cried in protest at this punishment. To which the answer would be: "Exactly!" In our world today, individuals, societies and even whole nations enjoy obscene levels of wealth and affluence when hundreds of millions live without the basics of food, water, clothing, shelter and the simplest of medical care. Should I examine my own conscience too?