Insurance: Is it Sinful or Biblical?

Have you ever thought about insurance? What were your thoughts? Do you have insurance? What kind? Have you ever got into an unpleasant situation and wished you had insurance? It happened to me not a long time ago.

I had a long international 10,000 mile flight with with 3 stops. Actually there were 4 flights altogether and it took me more than 24 hours. By the time I have arrived to my destination I was exhausted. I waited for my luggage for almost an hour. I have been told that my suitcase has not arrived. I had to file a claim which also took quite some time. 

After that the airline has not delivered my suitcase for four days. I was worried is to say the least. I spent hours on phone calls and internet writing letters to the baggage department of the airline. The story gets better, so keep reading. You have to read the whole article to find out what happened. This event triggered many questions in my mind.  Here is what I have wrestled with:


If we trust God do we still need insurance?
Could this be avoided? Is it right to make a claim if something goes wrong? Is it worth the trouble? Should I worry about it? There were many questions in my mind about insurance.  A few days ago I have read in an article written by Craig Ford from Papua New Guinea.  I wanted to share it with you and know your thoughts about it. Let's read it together and see what he writes on his website:

1. Trusting in God does not exempt us from hardship, struggle, and sickness.
In fact, we should not be surprised by hardship (1 Peter 4:12).  If we are to anticipate it, surely we are to prepare for hardship.  Faith is not the ability to control the outcome of our lives, but rather the attitude necessary to submit to whatever God brings our way.

2. Trusting in God does not excuse us from living lives of wisdom. 
Proverbs teaches that in times of surplus we should prepare for an unknown future. (Proverbs 6:6-8)

3. Trusting in God does not encourage us to embrace foolish decisions. 
There is no Bible verse that specifically addresses insurance, but I believe after reading through Proverbs not getting insurance would not be described as virtuous.


My story continues
In my experience, I have enjoyed the benefits of having travel insurance. After 100 hours of waiting, calling and writing, I finally got my suitcase back.I was glad I had insurance when my luggage was delayed for four days and I had to buy clothes. I purchased necessary items, including two suits that will be a memory of this event. The insurance company reimbursed over $ 400 for the items I had to purchase. 


What if something goes wrong? Should I trust the Lord to protect me? What if something unexpected happened? Does it mean that the Lord has not protected me? Is it wrong to have an insurance? Is it wrong to even think of insurance? What does the Bible say about it? 

Does Insurance Honor God?

1. Insurance allows us to protect our family and the church.  If we have a financial need, surely that burden would be placed on the church (1 Timothy 5:8).  If I am financially able to prepare for an unplanned future I should save the burden from my family and church by purchasing insurance.

2. Insurance honors the biblical principle of reimbursing with compensation those who have been wronged.  The biblical principle throughout Exodus 21:12-36 shows that people who are harmed should be compensated.  Auto insurance provides us a way to care for our neighbor in case we are at fault in an auto accident.  Health insurance ensures we have a way to pay medical bills we owe.  We might not be able to personally handle the financial obligation, but insurance will provide the needed resources.

3. In many instances insurance is required as a part of government submission (Romans 13:1).

4. Insurance can be a loving action towards a spouse or family.  Life insurance, for example, is a way for a husband to love his wife (Ephesians 5:25).  If one spouse is left behind, they and the children will have the necessary provisions.

5. Insurance helps to ensure you will have something to leave to your children (Proverbs 13:22).

6. Insurance provides us with a way to ensure our debts are paid.  Major illnesses are the number one cause of bankruptcy.  Insurance not only protects us, but also those who choose to serve us in our times of great need (Romans 4:4).

Resume
As you can see, the Bible does not have the word "insurance" the way we use it today. However, there are principles in the Bible that we can find and use in our time. We might not agree with Craig Ford's interpretation of the Bible but it is good to discuss this topic and find answers together.


What do you think about insurance? Please, share below: