David Loberg

My name is David Loberg. I’ve been married to my wife, Helena for 37 years. We have two daughters and seven grandchildren, who are the joy of our lives.  We are original members of BCF and have served in small groups, greeting, and the cookie ministry.  I am a member of the Gideon’s Ministry, which distributes Bibles worldwide, and a docent at the zoo, where I give tours. I enjoy walking, reading, travelling, and attending high school sports events.  

“...Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 
You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus....”

Luke 1:26-38

    Trusting God isn’t always easy. But, it is essential for spiritual growth.  Mary had to trust God to become the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:26-38). The wise men had to trust God to lead them on a 600-mile journey to see the baby Jesus (Matthew 2:1-9). If you don’t learn to trust God, you will never have the fulfillment He wants you to have.  
    Giving God control of my finances was a very hard step for me.  While I was still in elementary school, my father became totally disabled.  He spent a year in a private hospital before being transferred to a Veteran’s hospital.  We had to auction all our farm’s cattle and machinery to pay his medical expenses.  We went from being middle class to dirt poor overnight, which made me very security conscious.  While I wasn’t driven to be rich, I was always worried about being poor.  I was afraid I would retire and eat cat food.  
    Many years ago, Pastor Kenny issued a challenge to tithe, to return the first ten percent of our income that God claims is His.  The Holy Spirit had been urging me to tithe for a long time.  I took the challenge and began tithing. Malachi 3:10 gives God’s challenge to trust Him, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” say the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out a blessing until it overflows.”    
    God has given us so much since we began tithing.  Our finances are better than ever, and I have become more generous and relaxed.  Proverbs 22:9 promises, “He who is generous will be blessed”, and we have been abundantly blessed.  Most importantly, I no longer worry about our finances.  The Lord has freed me from that sin.  
    Trusting God is accepting that He is in charge.  He owns, “The cattle on a thousand hills.” (Psalm 50:10, NAS).  In other words, He owns everything.  You do not own your house, your car, or your bank account.  You don’t even own the skin on your body or the air that you breathe. It all belongs to Him.  You and I are God’s managers.
    Don’t be like I was, with one foot in the water worshipping God, and the other on dry land, trying to control things by myself.  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5, NAS).  This Christmas, put God to the test.  Jump in with both feet. Take the step of faith God is calling you to make. He will not let you down.

1.    What keeps you from tithing?
2.    Is God in control, or are you?
3.    How do you respond to the needs of your church?