Note 5 at 1Co 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 Ac 5. We see from Ac 4:34-37 that true "AGAPE" love was demonstrated as believers sold land and possessions, and gave the proceeds to be distributed by the apostles to meet everyone's needs. Then, Ananias and Sapphira sold a possession and pretended to give the total amount to the church (Ac 5:1-11). It was this pretense, for the purpose of receiving people's praise, that brought swift judgment from God. Hypocrisy exists when people do something pretending to please God or help others, when in reality they are only play-acting.

Hypocrisy is defined by the dictionary as "the practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; falseness" (American Heritage Dictionary). In the Greek, the word is "HUPOKRISIS" and refers to the playing of a part on the stage.

Hypocrisy is often described as doing something even though we don't want to or feel like doing it. It is true that God demands that our motives and reasons for doing things be right, but this does not mean that we always want to do something or delight in doing it. To do what God wants us to do, or to do unto others what we would want them to do unto us (Mt 7:12), is not hypocrisy--even if we don't feel like doing it. It is hypocrisy only when our motives for doing it are wrong and we'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.

Vine's Expository Dictionary 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, Ro 5:8.... Christian love, 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.... Love seeks the welfare of all, Ro 15:2, and works no ill to any, Ro 13:8-10; love seeks opportunity to do good to all men" (brackets mine).

It would be wrong to say that people can't love their spouses because their feelings are not in it and that they would be hypocrites to try. Remember that Jesus did not "feel" like dying, and He was no hypocrite. AGAPE love is the only kind of the three kinds of love (see note 3 at Ro 12:10) that can be commanded, for it is not an emotion but rather the "exercise of the Divine will [of God] in deliberate choice" (Vine's Expository Dictionary, brackets mine). That is why the Apostle John says, "And this is love, that we walk after his commandments [ways, or principles]" (2Jo 6, brackets mine).

Some scriptural examples of AGAPE love being commanded and carried out by God's grace (Ga 5:22) and deliberate choice (Ro 8:13) are "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" (Mt 5:44); "Love thy neighbour as thyself" (Mt 19:19); "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (Joh 14:15); "Let love be without hypocrisy" (Ro 12:9, New American Standard Bible); "By love serve one another" (Ga 5:13); "And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness" (Col 3:14); "And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins" (1Pe 4:8); and "Let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth" (1Jo 3:18).

Note 6 at 1Co 13:3: Actions can be negated by motives. Motives of the heart are more important than actions (see note 3 at 1Co 8:1). This is why many Christians have paid their tithes yet haven't seen the financial blessing that God's Word promises (Mr 10:29-30 and Lu 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 Mal 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 then their giving profits them nothing.

In the New Testament, Paul made it very clear that "every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver" (2Co 9:7). Giving because it's a debt, or because we'll be cursed if we don't give, is definitely not consistent with the motivation Paul gave in 2Co 9:7. There is a difference between N.T. giving and giving under the Law, and that difference is the motive.

Tithing was in effect before the Law of Moses (Ge 14:20), so tithing is a biblical principle that still applies to us N.T. believers who are not under the Law (see note 3 at Ro 3:19). The curse placed on those who did 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" (Ga 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 Mal 3:9 need to read Mal 3:8 more carefully. It says people have not only robbed God in tithes but also in offerings. Some people have estimated that all the tithes and offerings prescribed in the O.T. amounted to as much as 33 percent. So, to honestly use these scriptures in Malachi to motivate people to give, the preacher has to preach that any gift below 33 percent of one's income is just the payment of a debt, and the people are cursed if they don't give at least that much. I don't know anyone who believes that, yet that's what Mal 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 (De 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. However, because there is a God who honors faith, we can actually increase by giving (Pr 3:9-10 and 11:24-25).

It takes humility and faith to give. It is also smart. However, 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 people apply this N.T. attitude to their giving, then it becomes an acceptable offering to the Lord and releases upon the cheerful giver all the blessings that God has promised in His Word (2Co 9:7-11). But those who give with the wrong motive will not be profited anything.