What an incredible experience to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles with eight days of feasting physically and spiritually! It was a time to be refreshed, to have our vision of a thousand years of peace strengthened and to be reminded that God’s plan will encompass ALL humans who have ever lived.
What a blessing it is to experience these things. As we look forward to a better world, we truly desire a heaven-sent country, a better city prepared for us (Hebrews 11:16). We can reflect, “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 28:1-2 emphasis added throughout).
Although written many centuries ago to a physical nation that God set apart for His purpose, these words are also written for us today (Romans 15:4). Who does not wish to be blessed? I believe everyone would wish to be blessed, especially by our Creator.
After working 18 years in the financial industry, I have seen the full spectrum of financial woes and financial successes. I have witnessed those caught in the trap of “buy now, pay later.” I have seen the fear and emotional stress experienced when people are caught in that cycle and can no longer afford even necessities. This is not what our Creator intended and certainly not what He desires us to experience as we celebrate His feasts.
By some counts there are over 2,000 verses in the Bible that deal with money, finances and financial planning. Why? God knows that, “… where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21 NIV). Also “He who is faithful in a little will be faithful in a lot” (Luke 16:10-11). God desires that we faithfully use His word to guide us and to plan ahead.
I am inspired by the Feast messages and look forward to the time prophesied in Micah (Micah 4:1-5). What an inspiring prophecy showing that each individual shall sit under his vine and his fig tree! This implies ownership and no longer being afraid of “how can I afford this?” Our loving Creator wants us to experience this in part now as we celebrate His feasts in His way. He has given us His feasts and His financial principle to be able to experience it in the manner He intends. What a blessing!
God is the source of all true blessings - including our financial blessings. Philippians 4:19 says, “and my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Jesus Christ.” Proverbs 8:20-21 adds, “I traverse (lead) the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, that I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, That I may fill their treasuries.” Our celebration of God’s festivals will be greatly enhanced by fully understanding all aspects of His instructions.
Some have not truly enjoyed God’s feasts because they have not faithfully saved their festival tithe. Others have “borrowed” from their festival tithe and then discovered they could not repay. We must remember the principle that you cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). Festival tithe is for our use, but it is for use at the feasts.
Although these principles are part of God’s greater financial and spiritual instructions to us, they can certainly benefit us as we save our festival funds. Set up a special account for your festival tithe, save those funds regularly and don’t borrow from them (Proverbs 13:11). Keep records and budget to ensure you are able to properly save what God instructs (Proverbs 24:3-4; Proverbs 27:23-27, and Philippians 4:11-12) and be content with what you have. These scriptures will help us, as will reviewing our Creator’s instructions to be once again reminded of WHY we save these funds.
Notice in Deuteronomy 14:22-23, “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 firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always.”
This tithe is meant for our use as we observe God’s festivals and is not to be misused. Why? “That you may learn to fear the Lord your God always” – so that we might learn to properly stand in awe of, revere, respect and worship our Creator God at His festivals and all year long! Now that is a true blessing! A blessing that shall come upon you because you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.”
