Insurance

Dear Victorious,

Is insurance biblical?

Self-Insured

Dear Self,

What a fascinating question! Unfortunately, the way you signed it reveals that you already decided what the answer must be before you asked it.

I find no biblical basis for concluding that insurance of any kind is ungodly. Ironically, I do find Scripture that be used to support a requirement for insurance.

Some states, for example, have laws that require car insurance. The Bible instructs us to obey the laws of the land. So either get the insurance or don't drive. Anything else would be sinful.

Your mortgage lender might require insurance on your house. That's a contractual provision for making the loan. So get the insurance or sell (or pay off) the house. Anything else would be sinful.

Even a basis for life insurance could be found in biblical mandates to love one another as we would love ourselves. If I have the ability to purchase life insurance for my wife and family, for example, and don't - my death would create hardship on them. Of course I could use that money selfishly ... maybe to buy a boat I've been wanting. But if I die, the boat won't pay for my kids' college.

Simply put, there may not be a biblical prohibition against insurance. In addition, there is no direct biblical mandate to get insurance. But there are plenty of Scripture references that could easily support a decision to get insurance. Least among them might just be simple stewardship.

If I were you, I'd get the insurance.