The condemnation for withholding substance in the face of need is that Yahweh, the ultimate source of the wealthy man’s substance, will similarly withhold his bounty. Therefore, the wealthy in attempting to safeguard their status, will lose it. Benjamin’s explanation that he is speaking of those who are “rich as pertaining to the things of this world” makes it clear that he understands that there are spiritual riches as well. Those spiritual riches actually obey the same rules, but that is not Benjamin’s current concern. His immediate purpose is to describe a more desirable social order, which has strong spiritual implications.