Godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6). Those who devote themselves to another teaching that is contrary to the healthy words of our Lord seek to deceive the saints by teaching that financial gain is a means of godliness (1 Timothy 6:3). This false teaching has gone by many names over the last century and is predominantly known today as the prosperity gospel.
The fondness of money is a root of all wrong—doing things that lack in character—and those who follow after it will stray from the faith in their greed (1 Timothy 6:10). We are to put away the fondness of money and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and objectivity of mind (1 Timothy 6:11). By doing these things, we will take hold of eternal life (1 Timothy 6:12).
Those who are rich in this present age are not to be high minded, while trusting in uncertain riches. Instead, they are to do good works, being rich in proper works, generous, fellowshipping, so that they store up for themselves a proper foundation for the time to come, taking hold of eternal life (1 Timothy 6:17-19). Those who determine to be wealthy fall into temptation and a snare, leading them into many harmful and foolish desires (1 Timothy 6:9).
A person who continues a lifestyle of sin after being saved is not taking hold of eternal life. We are to lay aside the practices of the old man and put on the new man (Colossians 3:9-10). Laying aside the things of the old man involves abstaining from fleshly desires that war against our soul (emotions), as stated in 1 Peter 2:11. Although sin does not take away the salvation of the one who is saved, for nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:39), it still must be addressed in order to restore fellowship with God. As Jesus stated, “One who is clean only needs to wash his feet” (John 13:10), symbolizing the necessity of daily cleansing from any sins.
When we sin, we are to confess our sin—agree with God concerning our sinful action. If we confess our sin, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us of our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Unfortunately, many saints walk around with filthy feet because they continue to walk in the darkness, not doing the truth—the doctrine for having victory of our sin nature (1 John 1:6). A saint who maintains a lifestyle of sin is shortsighted, forgetting he has been washed from his old sins (2 Peter 1:9), and has no fellowship with God. The one who walks in the darkness does not share anything in common with Him (1 John 1:5-6).
Let us lay aside the sins of this world and take hold of God’s quality of life that we now possess in Christ—eternal life.