This additional tithe is also mentioned in Deuteronomy 14:22-27 You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year. And you shall eat before the LORD your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstlings of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always. But if the journey is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, or if the place where the LORD your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, when the LORD your God has blessed you, then you shall exchange it for money, take the money in your hand, and go to the place which the LORD your God chooses. And you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household. You shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no part nor inheritance with you.
plained about having to save this tithe for their own use. Some save only a part of it. Others procrastinate, waiting until it’s time to leave for the Feast and take their last pay- check or two, hoping to have enough funds to keep the Feast and make it back home. Those who do not faithfully keep their sec- ond tithe not only rob themselves, but they also rob their families and others from truly rejoicing as God commands. Such people are under a curse. Our second tithe should generally be placed in a bank or some other place for safekeep- ing. It is not wise to keep large sums of money in a drawer or some other place where it could be easily stolen. It is usually better to keep our second tithe in a complete- ly separate account from our regular bank account. That way we are not tempted to borrow - to steal - from it. Spending one’s second tithe to pay bills, with the intention of paying it back, is a dangerous proposi - tion. Usually people that do this are not able to pay it back and find themselves short when the Feast comes. At His feasts God wants us to enjoy and appreciate the finer things which we may not be able to afford at other times of the year. Yet we should strive to be balanced and practice modera- tion in all things. As ambassadors for Jesus Christ (II Corinthians 5:20) we should plan to leave a good tip at whatever restaurants we eat at and be a light to the community (Matthew 5:14-16). Let’s look forward to God’s wonderful feasts and plan to attend them as He commands. Let’s remember the widows, the fatherless, the poor, and others. We can use some of our tithe to make it possible for those less fortunate than us to enjoy God’s feasts as well. Most importantly let us thank a lov- ing God who makes our rejoicing possible through the second tithe He has given us!
Those who do not faithfully keep their second tithe [...] are under a curse
These verses clearly show us when, where and how to spend the second tithe. It is to be spent at God’s feasts where He places His name, not just anywhere we please. This tithe is to be used for transportation (getting to and from these feasts), for lodging, food and drink and for the enjoyment of these feasts. These are God’s feasts (see Leviticus 23:1-2) and He wants us to rejoice in them! Upon experience God’s people come to realize the wonderful bless - ing that the second tithe is, provided by a loving and wise Creator. A BLESSING Second tithe can be used to enjoy all of God’s feasts throughout the year. However, the bulk of this tithe is used to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day in the fall. Some have com -
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