Should believers purchase insurance or trust God's provision?
Introduction
The tension between "trusting God" and "taking practical steps" is common for new Christians. If God promises to provide everything we need, why should we pay for insurance against loss, illness, or death? This question mistakenly pits faith against prudence.
The biblical answer is that God provides for us not just through miracles, but often through the means of wisdom, planning, and industry—all of which He has commanded us to employ. Insurance is a tool of good stewardship, not a substitute for faith.
Main: Three Biblical Principles Supporting Insurance
The ethical and spiritual justification for purchasing insurance is found in the dual biblical commands for wise planning and the care of one’s neighbor.
1. The Principle of Prudent Foresight and Stewardship
The Bible consistently praises those who plan for the future and wisely manage resources.
Joseph’s Example: In Genesis 41:33-36, Joseph advised Pharaoh to save grain during the seven years of plenty to prepare for the seven years of famine. This is a model of risk management and future planning commanded by God for the entire nation. Insurance operates on the same principle: setting aside resources (premiums) during good times to mitigate the impact of certain bad times (loss).
Wise Management: We are called to be faithful stewards of the assets (home, car, income) that God has entrusted to us. Failing to protect these assets against foreseeable risks (like accidents or severe weather) could be considered negligence, or poor stewardship.
2. The Mandate to Care for Family
The highest moral priority for the Christian after serving God is caring for one's immediate family. Insurance helps fulfill this duty.
Providing for One's Own: Paul sternly warns: “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8).
Mitigating Catastrophe: Life, health, and disability insurance are key ways to provide for a family against the financial catastrophe of the unexpected. Purchasing a policy demonstrates a responsible commitment to ensuring that a spouse and children will not be devastated financially if the primary income earner is disabled or dies.
3. Reconciling Faith with Action
True faith does not negate practical action; it should inform it.
God Works Through Means: Trusting God's provision does not mean passively waiting for food to fall from the sky; it means working diligently in the field, knowing He will bring the harvest. Similarly, trusting God's provision while driving means obeying traffic laws and protecting against the consequences of an accident by purchasing auto insurance.
Faith is Primary, Not Passive: The passages urging trust (Matthew 6) are aimed at anxiety and worry, not at prohibiting wise planning. Insurance helps relieve the anxiety of uncertainty (which is a form of poor faith) by providing a wise, practical solution (which is a form of good stewardship).
Conclusion
Should Christians purchase insurance? Yes.
Purchasing insurance is not a sign of distrust in God, but an act of humility, wisdom, and love for your family. It acknowledges that we live in a fallen world where bad things happen, and it responsibly stewards the resources God has placed in our care. Trust God for the ultimate outcome, and use the wisdom He has given you for the practical planning.
