You take a last sip of red wine from your glass as dinner begins to wind down. Since you arrived at the steakhouse hours ago, time has flown by as you and the brethren laughed, fellowshipped and enjoyed a delicious meal. Wow, that was great, you think. It is late, so you start looking for the bill to pay so you can head back to your hotel. Yet it is nowhere to be found.

You look up and one of the brethren in the group is smiling at you, your check in hand. “I’ve got it,” they say.

If you have kept the Feast of Tabernacles for long, a scene like this feels familiar. Unexpected generosity is a hallmark of these special gatherings. You can likely recall various times over the years when you have been treated out of the blue, and other occasions when you did the same for someone else.

Spontaneous generosity is wonderful. Yet generosity does not always need to be spontaneous. The Bible reveals another form of generosity that can help us take our Feast experience and that of those around us to a new level.

Isaiah 32:8 says, “The liberal devises liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand.” When we hear the word “liberal” today, we often think of politics. But in the biblical sense, being liberal means you are generous and eager to give to others.

The key word to focus on here is “devises.” According to the Outline of Biblical Usage, the Hebrew word can mean to advise, consult, give counsel, purpose, devise, plan, and deliberate.

Clearly, what is being described here is not simply grabbing a check on the spur of the moment. This type of giving is carefully thought through.

The New Living Translation puts it this way: “Generous people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity.”

Planned generosity requires forethought. It goes beyond simply researching a restaurant or activity ahead of time—it has to do with the way we think. We have to observe and understand other people: their likes and dislikes, what would benefit them, and what could make their Feast especially enjoyable.

Philippians 2:4 applies here: “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” We then use that knowledge to craft a generous plan.

We should also consider our own circumstances: What do we have to give? How much time can we make in our schedule? What resources or advantages are available to us to help others? An idea may sound great, but can we really follow through?

The second part of Isaiah 32:8 says those who make such plans “stand firm in their generosity.” Eventually, instead of giving only occasionally when opportunities arise, we establish a consistent pattern of generosity. It becomes a way of life. We become more like God, who is the giver of “every good gift and every perfect gift” (Jms. 1:17).

Feast preparation involves many areas: travel, accommodations, clothing, activities, second tithe, and so on. Our preparation should also include the question: What generous things am I planning to do at the Feast?

We should plan to be generous toward the brethren, our family, ourselves, and God Himself.

Plan to Be Generous to the Brethren

Galatians 6:10 says, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” The Feast provides our biggest opportunity of the year to “do good” to the “household of faith.”

Planning to do good can involve something general, such as setting a goal to meet everyone at your site. This too goes back to our mindset. Meeting everyone does not happen by accident. It can only happen if we are purposeful about being generous with our time to engage every person.

Doing good also involves smaller, targeted acts for specific people—looking out for those who may not be included.

Deuteronomy 16:14 provides a guiding principle: “You shall rejoice in your feast, you, and your son, and your daughter, and your manservant, and your maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within your gates.”

This extensive list of categories shows God wants everyone to be included.

It is easy to spend time with people we already know well or who are in our congregation. Fulfilling the spirit of God’s command to rejoice with “the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow” can be more challenging, but it is worth it. Also read Luke 14:12-14.

We should seek out widows and widowers, those who are shut-ins or meet alone during the rest of the year, people who are new to the Church, or anyone who does not seem to be getting included like others.

We may have specific people in mind to help before we even get to the Feast, or we may meet people early in the festival and plan to spend time with them later on.

Consider one example. If we want to be generous to someone who uses a wheelchair, planning is not just a nice gesture—it is a prerequisite.

We consider ahead of time what kind of transportation is appropriate. We clear out our trunk to be able to fit their wheelchair. We call the restaurant to make sure it is handicap accessible. If we do not think through details like this, the person may not be able to accept the invitation.

Another example: We know a family with young children who will be at our Feast site. We could offer to watch their kids for an evening so mom and dad can go out and do something fun.

In advance of the appointed time, we take the opportunity to get to know those kids a little bit at services so they become familiar with us and it does not feel like they are being dropped off with a stranger. When the day comes, we have an activity and maybe a small gift already planned to keep the children entertained.

Scenarios like these illustrate the power of planning. Dining out with someone who is disabled or watching children for an evening usually cannot happen at the drop of a hat, but with planning, these acts of love can be cherished for a long time.

Your assigned duties at the Feast are another way to be generous to the brethren. They benefit from planning, too. We do not have to simply show up and await instructions.

If you are involved with a duty you have done in the past, take time to think through what went well and what did not in previous years. If you are new to a duty, consider reaching out to your team leader with any questions you may have, or simply check in to let them know you are looking forward to serving with them. Consider how to fit the duty into your schedule alongside the other things you want to do at the Feast.

Virtually any responsibility, from choir to setup to flowers and everything in between, can benefit from some amount of planning.

Plan to Be Generous to Your Family

Generosity at the Feast should not be solely directed toward our spiritual family. Our physical family deserves thoughtful kindness, too. Sometimes it is easy to get caught up in serving others at the Feast and overlook opportunities with those who know us best.

Deuteronomy 14:26 says, speaking of the second tithe we use at the Feast, “You shall bestow that money for whatsoever your soul lusts after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever your soul desires: and you shall eat there before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you, and your household.”

God provides second tithe to benefit our entire household.

If you are married, think about what would make the Feast special for your husband or wife. Plan to use your second tithe for a special meal or activity together. Give a thoughtful gift or surprise. Also, do not make your spouse carry all of the planning, packing, childcare or decision-making—jump in and help. Take over a responsibility so your spouse can relax.

The principle here also applies to a spouse who is not a member of the Church but comes to the Feast with you. Planning special time with them or giving them an opportunity to meet a couple you are close to in the Church can help make them feel included. Avoid spending so much time with the brethren that your spouse feels neglected and like they are only there to be your chauffeur.

If you have children, plan an activity with them that will make the joy and abundance of the Feast real. Let your kids choose an activity or meal. Take them somewhere that provides a look at God’s Creation they could not get back at home.

Deuteronomy 31:13 shows that the fear of the Lord is for kids, too: “And that their children, which have not known anything, may hear, and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as you live in the land where you go over Jordan to possess it.”

Depending on your kids’ ages, sitting through services every day could be a challenge. Plan how you can keep them engaged with the purpose of the Feast and make the wonderful world tomorrow come to life for them.

Plan to Be Generous to Yourself

There are many people we should be generous to. Yet we should also take time to be generous to ourselves.

We are given second tithe for this purpose: “And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice in all that you put your hand unto, you and your households, wherein the Lord your God has blessed you…you may kill and eat flesh in all your gates, whatsoever your soul lusts after, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you” (Deut. 12:7, 15).

God commands us to eat and drink what we enjoy. We should take advantage of that.

At the same time, everything has a reasonable and natural limit. Philippians 4:5 says, “Let your moderation be known unto all men.”

We should not overindulge. But we also should not burn through our second tithe being generous to others and force ourselves to eat peanut butter sandwiches and ramen noodles the rest of the Feast.

Planning can help us maintain a balanced approach. Our Feast budget should allot sufficient funds to fulfill God’s commands.

The principle here does not apply only to food and drink. Plan time during the festival to do at least one thing that you really want to do. This could be anything from a visit to the beach to going to a museum to feeding ducks at a park. Do not put yourself in a position to be disappointed on the drive home because you focused exclusively on doing things for others and did not make time for yourself.

Proverbs 11 says, “The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that waters shall be watered also himself” (vs. 25). There is nothing wrong with receiving some personal benefits, especially as we prioritize being generous to others. Also read Ecclesiastes 9:7-9.

Another element of personal generosity is planning for good health. John wrote, “I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health” (III John 2). The Feast would not be an exception.

Getting sick is a common pitfall at the Feast. It is easy to start thinking about your health only after you feel a sore throat coming on. Instead, consider what you can do now to stay healthy and maintain the energy you need to get the most out of the festival. This could involve adjustments to your diet, exercise, sleep or other habits.

For example, if you find you tend to stay out too late at the Feast and feel like a zombie at services, you could consider setting a personal curfew and asking someone you are close with to help you stay accountable.

Proper self-care is being generous to yourself. It allows you to maintain generosity toward everyone else by keeping you physically and mentally able to serve.

Plan to Be Generous to God

Our generous plans should also include what we give to God. Thousands of years ago, King David asked: “What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me?” (Psa. 116:12).

Being generous to God is not as obvious as buying a gift or a meal for another human being. How can we plan to be generous toward God at the Feast?

One way is through our Holy Day offerings. Leviticus 23 says, “The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the Lord … Seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and you shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord” (vs. 34, 36).

During morning services on the first day of the Feast and on the Last Great Day, we will take up offerings. These are opportunities to make generous plans. Unlike tithes, we get to choose the amount we give.

Deuteronomy 16:17 adds, “Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you.”

As we reflect on blessings we have received from God, we will likely conclude that He has been very generous to us. That should motivate us to be generous back to Him—to give “according to the blessing of the Lord.”

While the offertory message is important and we should allow it to influence how much we ultimately give, our offering should not hinge on how we feel after the minister steps away from the lectern. We should plan what we can afford and what reflects our blessings.

II Corinthians 9 emphasizes: “Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver” (vs. 7).

David connected offerings to other ways we give to God. He said: “Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name: bring an offering, and come into His courts. O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before Him, all the earth” (Psa. 96:8-9).

David acknowledged offerings, but also cited other ways to give to God in the same breath: glorifying Him, worshipping Him and fearing before Him. Also read Psalm 29:2. These are all things we do at the Feast.

Leviticus 23:40 adds a vital element to Feast worship: “You shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days.”

Is rejoicing something that we assume will just happen? Or do we plan for it?

While we cannot know exactly how joyful we will be during every minute of the Feast, there is more we can do to plan for this command than we may realize. For instance, if we allow things like unpaid bills and unfinished projects at work to pile up, it will be difficult to rejoice with that stress hanging over our heads. On the flip side, if we take stock of the various obligations of daily life and do our best to accomplish them before the Feast, we will have peace of mind that allows for more rejoicing.

Psalm 35:18 adds something else we can give God: “I will give You thanks in the great congregation: I will praise You among much people.”

How generous will we be in giving thanks at the Feast this year? Before we go, we can plan how we will set aside time in our schedules to meditate on our blessings and give thanks to God in prayer. We could purchase a journal or create a digital scrapbook to help us keep track of specific things we want to show appreciation for as the Feast progresses. Planning to be thankful is a way to give to God.

Plan to Be Generous Beyond the Feast

Return to Isaiah 32:8: “Generous people plan to do what is generous, and they stand firm in their generosity” (NLT). Nothing in this verse limits the principle to the Feast of Tabernacles.

The Feast gives us the momentum and the means to get off to a great start. But we can also make generous plans throughout the year. It can be challenging when we do not have second tithe to use or we are farther away from the brethren. But it can be done.

Jesus Christ taught, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). He added in Matthew 10:8, “Freely you have received, freely give.” Also read Luke 6:38. Giving is essential to Christianity.

The Feast of Tabernacles pictures a coming world characterized by abundance, service, concern and outgoing love. We have the opportunity to practice that way of life now.

The habits developed at the Feast—looking for needs, understanding others, sharing abundance, giving time, serving others while putting God first—should continue even after we return home.

The goal is not simply to perform several generous acts at the Feast, but to become a more generous person year-round, in your family, community and congregation.

As you get ready for this year’s Feast of Tabernacles, plan to be generous. And let that shape you into being a generous person who can stand firm in generosity as a way of life.