Biblical Insurance

Dear Victorious,

Talk to me about insurance. Aren't Christians supposed to trust God to take care of them? Isn't buying insurance then just a form of not trusting God?

Harry L. - Montauk, NY

Dear Harry,

That may sound logical, but it's not accurate. There are several different types of insurance to buy. But the most common are:

1. Auto Insurance (including liability and uninsured motorists)
2. Property Insurance (home and contents, renters' insurance, etc.)
3. Health Insurance (pays medical bills, provides income in disability, etc.)
4. Life Insurance (pays survivors if you die)

Of course there are other types of insurance, such as long term care insurance, extended warranties, trip cancellation, etc. But let's focus on the four (4) I've listed above, as they are the most common and the most expensive.

The Bible doesn't specifically require insurance, nor does it specifically prohibit it. But, Proverbs 27:12 tells us that, "The prudent see danger and take refuge ..." What this means is that prudent people understand the risks associated with everyday living and take precautions to mitigate those risks. So I think that's the first place to start when wondering if insurance is Biblical. Insurance is a legal, God-honoring way to mitigate known risks in life. Put another way, God wants to take care of your needs --- and He may well use insurance to do so.

But there are other Biblical principles that can be applied to certain types of insurance. Two specifically come to mind.

The first is the law of "loving others as you would like to be loved." (Matthew 24:39, Mark 12:31) Look at this one in the context of two real-life scenarios. You become sick or injured and must be hospitalized for expensive treatment. This happens all too often. With adequate insurance, you are making sure that those who treat you and provide for your medical care will be paid for their services.

Or, imagine that another motorist crashes into your car and hasn't the insurance or the money to make the situation right for you. You have the insurance to cover your losses, you forgive him and you move on. (This could also come under the Biblical principle of loving your enemies and forgiving those who offend you.)

The second Biblical principal is to obey the laws of the land. (Romans 13:1-7) Most states now have laws requiring you to have certain levels of automobile and related insurance. Similarly, federal laws require mortgaged real estate to be insured. So that's reason enough to do it, from a Biblical perspective.

I could go on, citing other Biblical principals, but hopefully you get the point. Buying certain types of insurance is a good, God-honoring thing to do. Not buying silly insurance and shopping around for the best deal are also God-honoring ways to approach it. Make sure you're adequately covered in the key areas of risk in life. And make sure the coverage is the most godly coverage you can find. It's Biblical!