Should a Christian get insurance?

 

Getting insurance can be a Christian act of wise stewardship, not necessarily a lack of faith. But whether any particular policy is right for you is a matter of conscience, prayer, and biblical wisdom.

Why it’s not black-and-white

The Bible doesn’t mention “insurance,” so we must apply biblical principles rather than a single command. Three healthy tensions appear in Scripture:

• Trust in God / faith (e.g. Hebrews 11:6; Matthew 6:25–34) — we shouldn’t live as if God won’t provide.
• Stewardship and care for others (e.g. Proverbs on planning, Genesis 41 — Joseph’s planning, 1 Timothy 5:8 — provide for family, Luke 14:28 — count the cost).
• Obedience to authorities and civil law (Romans 13), and sensitivity to differing consciences (Romans 14).

Those tensions explain why Christians have reached different, sincerely held convictions about insurance.

Biblical principles to apply

1. Love and responsibility for family. If you have dependents, planning to meet their needs if something happens to you is an expression of love and responsibility (1 Tim. 5:8).
2. Obedience to law. If insurance is legally required (auto liability, worker regs), obey the law (Romans 13).
3. Stewardship. Manage resources prudently — saving, planning, and protecting assets can be faithful stewardship (counting cost, Joseph’s planning).
4. Faith, not fear. Insurance should not be a substitute for trusting God, nor should it be purchased out of greed or a love of money. If your heart trusts money or policies above God, that’s the heart issue to confess (Heb. 11:6; James 4:17).
5. Love of neighbour / opportunity to do good. If insurance helps you keep promises or care for others (e.g., covering medical bills that would otherwise impoverish a neighbor or family), it can be a means of doing good.

Practical considerations (how to decide)

Use these steps rather than a single rule:

1. Pray and ask God for wisdom (James 1:5).
2. Check legal/contractual obligations (auto, mortgage, employer rules).
3. List who depends on you and what they would need (income replacement, mortgage, medical bills).
4. Evaluate alternatives and complements:
• Emergency savings / sinking fund
• Community or church support / mutual-aid arrangements
• Term life vs whole life (term is usually cheaper and purely protective)
• Disability insurance, health insurance, liability insurance
5. Consider risk tolerance and finances: how likely and how devastating is the risk? Can you self-insure for it?
6. Examine the policy’s ethics and structure (are there predatory terms? is the company reputable?).
7. Seek counsel from mature believers, a pastor, and a trusted financial advisor.
8. Decide in conscience (Romans 14:5, 14:23) — if you purchase insurance, do it as an act of faith and stewardship; if you forgo it, be ready to explain how you will care for dependents and obey the law.

Examples that help

• Single, with no dependents, healthy savings, and a strong church support network: some may reasonably choose minimal life insurance.
• Married with children and mortgage: many would see term life insurance as wise stewardship.
• Self-employed or with no employer disability coverage: disability insurance often makes practical sense.
• Required by law (auto liability): there is no room for refusal.

Final thought

Insurance itself is morally neutral — it’s a tool. What matters is the heart motive (faith vs fear or greed) and whether the choice honors God and cares for others. Either choice can be done in faith; either can be done wrongly. Study Scripture, pray, get godly counsel, and make a decision you can defend biblically and live with in faith.