The Biggest Risk That Very Few Cover

Job 1:5
When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.

To cover a risk is to ensure that when the worst happens you are safe from its consequences. We take motor vehicle insurance to cover road accident risks. So that in case of a road accident there is money available to compensate the affected and fix or replace the car. We take health insurance so that in the event of sickness, money will be available to pay for our treatment. To buy an insurance policy against a certain risk is to take a cover.

When risks are few and small or of a lesser impact we do not find it necessary to take a cover against such risks. But when risks carry a significant cost that can wipe away all savings, we tend to be careful and even get an insurance cover. When we make a huge investment we find it natural and wise to cover it from any risks by insuring it. We insure cars, houses, children, health, and even life. If you can cover yourself against big risks, you surely wouldn’t be careless about the biggest risk facing you.

There are many arguments on whether Christians should buy insurance covers. Some argue that it denotes a lack of faith. The argument gets much more serious when it is a life that is being covered. Insurance should be understood not as a way to prevent bad occurrences but to ensure when they happen, we can recover and move on. Life cover ensures that those who depend on us are taken care of in our absence. The story of Joseph interpreting Pharaoh’s dream is a story of insurance. Seven years of abundance should be years to take a cover against the coming seven years of famine, Genesis 41:17-40.

Taking a cover is not putting faith in the cover. A motor vehicle insurance cover does not prevent accidents and no one expects it to do so. We cover our vehicles but still pray for a safe journey because our faith is in God. Buying a cover is being organized which is Christian, Luke 14:28-32 and 1 Corinthians 14:40. Our lives must also be organized and wisdom requires that we also plan for risks. Buying a fire extinguisher is not praying for fire but being ready in the event of a fire. Therefore a believer must cover the risks that are foreseeable. Going to school covers risks. Buying property covers risks. Saving money covers risks. Investments cover risks. Having another source of income covers risks. Buying insurance policies covers risks. We are wise when we cover risks. Yet some forget to cover their greatest risk.

The book of Job tells us that he was the richest man in the east during his time. Job was the father of seven sons and three daughters. Job owned immense wealth. Job was also a religious man. God approved of Job’s faith and commitment to God. The Bible tells us that the sons of Job would hold birthday parties in their various homes and their sisters were invited. Birthday parties for each son and when the last one had celebrated his birthday that year, celebrations would cease until the following year. When celebrations ceased Job would organize a religious ritual and offer burnt sacrifices for each of his children. Job did this every year.

Job did religious rituals and prayed for his children as an insurance cover. Job said, “perhaps my children sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Job did not want his children to face the wrath of God in case they had offended God. Job did not want his children to suffer the consequences of a life without God. Job was protecting his children from the consequences of sin. Job was very rich but the Bible reports that he covered his children from the consequences of sin. Sin was the biggest risk that Job knew, yet many of us today do not consider sin the biggest risk we face. The biggest risk that very few cover.

You have covered and you are planning to cover yourself against very real and imagined risks. You covered yourself against illiteracy by going to school. You have covered yourself against all sorts of risks, but what about sin? What about the risk of offending God? What about the risk of being punished by God? This was the biggest risk. The biggest risk that very few cover.

It is good to cover yourself against various risks. As we cover ourselves we should not forget the biggest risk we actually face is to overcome sin and be on God’s side. Job was a righteous and rich man, and he prayed regularly since he wanted to insure his children against the risk of sin and offending God. Dear God, keep my family safe from the biggest risk of sin against You, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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