By Ayodeji Adedipe
It is okay to hate it
Let us be honest: most people do not like life insurance. It forces you to think about your own death. It feels like one more monthly bill. Some people have had a pushy salesperson leave a bad taste. Others simply feel it is something they will deal with later.
Those feelings are real, and you are not wrong to have them. But many of the most important things we do in life are things we do not enjoy. We do not love paying the mortgage, going to the dentist or filing taxes. We do them because the people we love are better off when we do.
Responsibility is not a feeling
Responsibility does not wait for us to feel like it. A parent gets up at night for a crying baby whether or not they feel rested. A husband or wife shows up for their spouse on hard days as well as easy ones. Love, in Scripture, is something you do.
If someone depends on your income, your care or your presence, then their future is partly in your hands. Life insurance is one of the few tools that lets you keep caring for them even if you are no longer here to do it yourself.
“But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”
What happens when there is no plan
When a provider dies without coverage, the grief arrives together with the bills. A surviving spouse may have to sell the home, take on extra work while raising children alone, or depend on relatives and church members to cover funeral costs. Children's education plans may stop. Debts do not disappear.
Nobody intends to leave that burden behind. It happens because the decision kept being postponed. Putting a plan in place now is how you make sure your loved ones grieve you, not your unpaid bills.
Love that outlives you
A life insurance benefit can pay off a mortgage, replace years of lost income, cover final expenses, and help children finish school. It turns your love and intentions into something your family can actually stand on.
This is the inheritance Scripture speaks about: not only money, but stability, dignity and the freedom to heal without financial panic.
“A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children.”
Faithful stewardship, not fear
Getting coverage is not a lack of faith. Everything we have belongs to God, including the income our families depend on, and we are asked to manage it wisely. Preparing for a day we cannot see is faith in action, as Joseph showed when he stored grain before the famine.
The right amount and type of coverage depends on your situation. The point is not to buy the biggest policy; it is to stop ignoring the question and make a thoughtful, prayerful decision.
“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
Questions to ask yourself today
- Who depends on my income or care right now?
- If I passed away tomorrow, how would my family pay the bills next month and next year?
- Am I avoiding this decision because of cost, fear or simply discomfort?
- Have I talked with my spouse or family about what our plan would be?
This article is for educational purposes and is not financial, legal or tax advice. Coverage options vary by carrier and state; speak with a licensed professional about your own circumstances. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version.