Note 5 at 1 Cor. 13:3: How could I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and not have charity (i.e. love)? We don't have to wonder because we have a perfect example in Acts 5. We see from Acts 4:34-37 that true agape love was demonstrated as believers sold land and possessions to be distributed by the Apostles to meet everyone's need. Then Ananias and Sapphira sold a possession and pretended to give the total amount to the church (Acts 5:1-11). It was this pretense, for the purpose of receiving man's praise, that brought swift judgment from God. Hypocrisy exists when one does something pretending to please God or help others, when in reality he is only play acting.

Hypocrisy is defined by the dictionary as "The feigning of beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; insincerity"(American Heritage Dictionary). In the Greek the word is "hupokrisis" and means "the playing of a part on the stage."

Hypocrisy is often said to be doing something even though you don't want to, or feel like, doing it. It is true that God demands that our motive and reason for doing things be right, but this does not mean that we always want to, or delight in, doing something. To do what God wants you to do, or to do unto others what you would want them to do unto you, is not hypocrisy (Mt. 7:12)-even if you don't feel like doing it. It is hypocrisy only when your motive for doing it is wrong, and you're not genuinely seeking the welfare and benefit of others. Remember, Jesus didn't feel like going to the cross, but He went anyway to seek the welfare and benefit of the world.

W.E. Vine describes agape love as the "love (that) can be known only from the actions it prompts. . .this is not the love of complacency, or affection, that is, it was not drawn out by any excellency in its objects (Rom. 5:8). Christian love (agape), whether exercised toward the brethren, or toward men generally, is not an impulse from the feelings, it does not always run with the natural inclinations. . .(agape) seeks the welfare of all (Rom. 15:2) and works no ill to any (Rom. 13:8-10); (agape) seeks opportunity to do good to all men. . ."

It would be wrong to say, "I can't love my husband or wife because my feelings are not in it. I would be a hypocrite to try." Remember Jesus did not "feel" like dying and He was no hypocrite. Agape love is the only kind of the four kinds of love (see note 3 at Rom. 12:10, p. 830) that can be commanded, for it is not an emotion but rather the "exercise of the divine will (of God) in deliberate choice" (W.E. Vine). That is why the Apostle John says "And this is love, that we walk after his commandments" (ways, or principles) (2 Jn. 6).

Some scriptural examples of agape love being commanded and carried out by God's grace (Gal. 5:22) and deliberate choice (Rom. 8:13) are: (1) "Love your enemies. . .bless them. . .do good. . .and pray for them" ( Mt. 5:44); (2) "love thy neighbour as thyself" (Mt. 19:19); (3) "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (Jn. 14:15); (4) "Let love be without hypocrisy" (NASV) (Rom. 12:9); (5) "by love serve one another" (Gal. 5:13); (6) Love "is the bond of perfectness" (Col. 3:14); (7) "And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins" (1 Pet. 4:8); (8) "let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth" (1 Jn. 3:18).

Note 6 at 1 Cor. 13:3: Actions can be negated by motives. Motives of the heart are more important than actions (see note 3 at 1 Cor. 8:1, p. 898). This is why many Christians have paid their tithes, and yet haven't seen the financial blessing that God's Word promises (Mk. 10:29-30; Lk. 6:38) come back to them. There is more to giving than just the action. The motive is very important.

Probably the most dominant motive for giving in the church today is that of debt or obligation. Ministers often use Malachi 3:8-10 to tell their congregations that they are robbing God if they don't tithe. They go on to say that God will curse them for not tithing. That motivates the people to give, but for the wrong reason, and makes their giving profit them nothing.

In the New Testament, Paul made it very clear that every person was to give "as he purposeth in his heart...not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:7). Giving because it's a debt, or we'll be cursed if we don't give, is definitely not consistent with the motivation Paul gave in 2 Corinthians 9:7. There is a difference between New Testament giving, and giving under the law, and that difference is the motive.

Tithing was in effect before the law of Moses (Gen. 14:20), so tithing is a biblical principle that still applies to us New Testament believers who are not under the law (see note 3 at Rom. 3:19, p. 757). But the curse placed on those who do not tithe was a part of the Old Testament law and it doesn't apply to us today. "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:" (Gal. 3:13). I am not cursed if I don't tithe. I'm stupid if I don't, but I'm not cursed.

Those who want to cling to the curse of Malachi 3:9 need to read verse 8 more carefully. It says we have not only robbed God in tithes, but also in offerings. Some people have estimated that all the tithes and offerings prescribed in the Old Testament amounted to as much as 33%. So, to honestly use these scriptures in Malachi to motivate people to give, the preacher has to preach that any gift below 33% of one's income is just the payment of a debt and he is cursed if he doesn't give at least that much. I don't know anyone who believes that and yet that's what Malachi 3:8-10 says.

Giving, including tithing, should first and foremost be an act of worship and thanksgiving, an acknowledgement that it is God who gives us power to get wealth (Deut. 8:18). It also is an act of faith. If there was no God, and if His promises were not true, it would be foolish to give our money away. Our resources would diminish, not increase. But because there is a God who honors faith, we can actually increase by giving (Prov. 3:9-10; 11:24-25).

It takes humility and faith to give. It is also smart. But if you don't tithe and give, God still loves you stupid. You won't have a crop to harvest if you eat all your seed, but God will still love you.

When a person applies this New Testament attitude to his giving, then it becomes an acceptable offering to the Lord, and releases all the blessings that God has promised in His Word upon the cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7-11). But those who give with the wrong motive will not be profited anything.