Last time, we discussed the three types of tithes discussed in the Bible. I want to focus the rest of this blog on the SECOND Tithe!

Remember from last time that the second tithe was to be saved up and spent on the feast days. I want to talk more about this since the Fall Feasts are upon us!

I typically do my Feast shopping a month or two before a Feast begins. I might buy a new suit or new shoes. I will not wear these items until the Feasts are celebrated. The ladies like dresses and new shoes. This means that they should buy a nice dress or some shoes as they approach the Feast Days. During the Feasts, we eat at the nicest restaurants. Guys love steak. We eat steak several times during the Feast! Maybe you like ice cream; the feast is the time to really get the things that make you happy! If you have to travel a distance to keep the Feasts, use your second tithe on travel expenses! Most of us do not make enough money to properly celebrate these Days on our regular income. Second tithe is a holy income for the Holy Days of Christ! We are supposed to eat the fatty foods and drink sweet drinks during this time (Nehemiah 8:10).

When we have taken care of our needs, we are to send portions to those who have not been able to prepare any (Nehemiah 8:10). At Hungry Hearts, we support churches in other nations. We take up a collection of our second tithe to help them keep the Feast Days. They will live large during this time and have plenty for everyone. They get tremendous evangelism opportunities because of this. Second tithe is a way to properly display God’s Kingdom provision! Everyone will see you celebrating and ask about it. The Feasts also create memories of items you buy with second tithe and events based on God’s way of Life. Every time you look at the clothes you buy for a Feast Day, you will think “Wow, what a great Festival season we celebrated that year!”. We each have memories of special items and events. It places the imprint of God upon your life. Why not have these special memories centered on the Lord’s celebrations?

The Feast Days are the times to wear our best. The guys wear their coat and ties; the ladies wear their nicest dresses. The Feast Days are the times of the greatest outpouring of God’s Spirit. They celebrate the redemption we share in Jesus Christ. We ought to dress the best we can. Some people may not be able to afford a coat and tie; that is quite understandable. As a person celebrates the feasts and keeps their second tithe, they should be able to afford nicer clothing. Brothers and sisters in the church should also help the poorer brethren have some nicer clothing.

In Malachi 3:8, the prophet Malachi receives an interesting revelation about tithes and offerings. “8 Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings….”

Notice that the word for tithes and offerings here is plural. There is more than one tithe and there are three annual festival offerings for Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. These are some general tips on how we should keep the Feast Days. We want to show up before God with a contrite heart and full of joy. When we do these things, we can have a joy-filled Feast in the presence of God. We can truly experience His Glory.