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Is Insurance Biblical?

By February 1, 2007November 9th, 2022No Comments

Q. What does one say to a person who doubts that insurance is Biblical, believing it is a sign of distrusting God and also a form of gambling?

A. There is no verse, of course, that reads, “Thou shalt carry insurance for yourself, your loved ones, and your possessions.” But insurance may be a part of a person’s Biblical responsibility to provide for those who are, or sometime may be, dependent on him or her. First Timothy 5:8 states, “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

This verse wouldn’t be necessary if one were supposed to do what some people do as expressed by statements such as, “Oh well, I’ll just trust the Lord and hope that nothing bad happens.” God certainly takes care of us. But He expects us to do our part as well. Just as God brings people to Himself in salvation, He also expects believers to do their part in witnessing and giving out His Word. If we were to deliberately run out in front of a speeding car, we couldn’t expect God to spare us. If we fail to lock our doors, we can’t blame God if thieves walk in.

As to the gambling idea, wouldn’t it be more like gambling to risk great loss by not having insurance? People have suffered greatly by losing all they had because their homes and belongings were uninsured. Most of us have heard stories that illustrate this unfortunate fact. Insurance is a way for people to help one another in times of calamity and misfortune. Surely it is Biblical to help others in these uncertainties of life. Further, states generally require liability insurance for vehicle owners. Christians are to obey the law, as long as it doesn’t violate the clear teachings of Scripture.

On the other hand, it is possible to go overboard on insurance. Some believers may put more trust in their insurance policies than in the Lord. Also, certain types or amounts of insurance are unnecessary, and a Christian should not feel obligated to have more insurance than he or she needs. Being insured is a matter a believer can take to the Lord in prayer.

This article appeared in the “Q & A” column of the Baptist Bulletin by Norman A. Olson. 

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