Life Insurance—Good Stewardship?

Biblegems #43

As Christians are becoming increasingly aware, The earth is the LORD’S, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it (Ps. 24:1). That means that all our money and possessions ultimately belong to God. It is wise to ask, therefore, is life insurance a good use of God’s money?

The word “insurance” stems from an older word, “ensure,” which in the mid-1500’s meant “engagement to marry” (Online Etymology Dictionary). It conveyed the idea of “making sure;” a binding agreement or contract. The term “insure” came into its modern use in the 1600’s, where it took on the idea of providing a financial means for “making sure” that necessary expenses were taken care of at death.

Life insurance, properly understood, is a form of inheritance. It does nothing, of course, to en-sure the length or quality of one’s life. Rather, it serves to protect the survivors of someone’s death against funeral costs and loss of income that person brought into the family.

The Bible says, A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous (Prov. 13:22). As believers learn to appreciate their role in God’s plan as managers of His resources rather than owners of our resources, the need becomes apparent to examine every expense, every investment in this light. We don’t want to spend God’s money frivolously, or in ways that once seemed right from a worldly perspective but may not be good stewardship from God’s point of view.

So we need to ask the hard questions: If I were to die today, would those who survive me be adequately protected financially to take care of final expenses (which can be quite high), plus have sufficient funds to manage the costs of living I can no longer provide for? Life insurance can provide the means for “making sure,” as well as we are able, that those who survive us are not overwhelmed financially.

Some people have sufficient wealth at their disposal and designated for inheritance that life insurance may not be necessary. But for most of us, life insurance is a kind of savings account specifically set up for that purpose.

This inheritance also conveys another important and beautiful truth from Scripture. An inheritance is a gift passed on, not earned income. To leave an inheritance is an act of grace; to receive an inheritance is to benefit from an act of grace. The Promised Land given Israel was given as an inheritance from God Himself:

… “You will possess their land; I will give it to you as an

inheritance, a land flowing with milk and honey.” I am the

LORD your God, who has set you apart from the nations (Lev. 20:24).

Likewise, we who belong to Jesus Christ have our future needs provided for when we pass from this earthly life …into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you (1 Pet. 1:4).

Starbucks® & Stewardship

Biblegems #28

Could you suggest some scripture or principles that I could study - or perhaps address in Biblegems — on how we who have been blessed can best be good stewards?

In 2 Corinthians 9 the apostle Paul points out that God has specifically selected some people to have more material wealth and resources than others for the express purpose of sharing with those in need. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God (2 Cor. 9:11).

In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus likewise describes God as intentionally giving resources to people in varying amounts, giving each person the responsibility of investing those resources wisely, regardless of the amount initially entrusted to them. In both passages God is represented as the owner and provider of the resources we have, and we are represented as stewards or managers of His resources for the benefit of His Kingdom. We will all have to give an account of how those resources entrusted to us were put to use (Matt. 25:19).

Nevertheless, God has also intended that we provide for our selves and our families (Prov. 6:6-8; 1 Tim. 5:8), and that we enjoy the fruit from the work of our hands, so long as we remember we work for the Lord and not for ourselves. … For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the works of their hands (Is. 65:22).

God also does not want His children feeling guilty for enjoying a cup of Starbucks coffee simply because there are people living in poverty whom we have not yet helped. As Jesus reminded His disciples, You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me (John 12:8). The context for this statement was when Mary poured expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet at Lazarus’ house, and Judas Iscariot objected on the grounds that the perfume could have been sold and the proceeds given to the poor.

The principle of biblical stewardship of material resources is simple: God owns it all (Ps. 24:1; 1 Cor. 10:26); we are to manage those resources for His Kingdom and His glory (Matt. 25:1ff) and provide for our necessities; and we are to enjoy the goodness of the Lord’s bounty, even as we share generously with those who are less fortunate.

For further study on what the Bible has to say on the use of money and the principles of biblical stewardship, I heartily recommend Crown Financial Ministries at www.crown.org . They provide a rich variety of teaching tools and helps for personal, small group and church use.