Question Box
Good News Magazine
October 1957
Volume: Vol VI, No. 10
QR Code
Question Box
Good News Staff  

Should You Spend Your Second Tithe at Home?

   If for some unforeseen circumstance you are unable to attend the Feast of Tabernacles, what should you do with your second tithe? Many that we have met on the baptizing tours, and others by letters, have asked about this problem.
   First, let us understand the purpose of the second tithe. God, in His Word, commands us to assemble at His set feasts. In order to make our attendance possible, God ordained that we set aside a second tithe to cover expense to and from the festival (Deut. 14:23-26; 16:13-15).
   In ancient times, when travel expenses were of little consequence, the tithe was used to cover food expenses primarily. But today, since the purpose of the second tithe is to enable us to attend the festivals, much more of it has to be spent for transportation than for food.
   Now let us notice where the second tithe was to be spent. "Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there... that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always. And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the Lord thy God shall choose to set his name there, Then the Lord thy God hath blessed thee: then shalt thou turn it into money... and shalt GO unto the place which the Lord thy, God shall choose... and thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice" (Deut. 14:22-27).
   The second tithe — the tenth that God wants us to lisp, which is another and separate tenth from the first tithe that He reserves for Himself for the carrying out of the gospel — the second tithe we are to use to attend the festivals. But let us read further: "Thou mayest NOT eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine... but thou MUST eat them before the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter" (Deut 12:17-18).
   Here is a positive command not to use the second tithe at home if you are unable to attend. You must use it to enable you to attend the festivals at the place which God chooses. If the money is spent for any other purpose, then you are breaking a command of God — you are not learning to fear His authority — and you are cheating yourself of the wonderful blessing of fellowship with others of like faith.
   If for unforeseen circumstances you are unable to attend the festivals, and if you are prosperous, it would be the right and brotherly duty to enable others to use your tithe. It can be sent to Pasadena, with an explanation that it is to enable others to attend the festival. But if you are like most of the brethren, not having many worldly goods, and a small income or none at all, and if you are unable to come to the festival, you should save it until the next year or for two years, if necessary, when you will then have enough to assemble where God has chosen to place His name. Meantime, you will be observing the festivals at home just as you would at the feast.
   In many cases we try to aid the poorer brethren through the extra second tithe of those few who have more than enough. But only those who have faithfully saved their insufficient second tithe deserve the extra help. If you haven't tried to save your little, God cannot deem you worthy of His extra assistance.

Back To Top

Good News MagazineOctober 1957Vol VI, No. 10