Matthew 5:13
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
One of the most common commodities that we have right now is salt. It seems that this is one of the essentials that we cannot afford not to have. Why? Well, salt is essential both in our present time and in the past as well. Here are some of the reasons why it is vital! First, salt is used in preserving food. Without it, for sure, food will be wasted. Second, food without salt will be tasteless. It gives flavor and savor to our food and will stimulate our appetite. It was used as a taste enhancer (and as a necessary mineral) in ancient times. Salt is mentioned in the book of Job. In Job 6:6, it says, “Can flavorless food be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg? (NKJV) Third, salt can be used as medicine. There is also the fact that the human body needs a specific, small amount of salt. If a person does not get any salt at all, that is bad for one’s health and, in the end, deadly – but, on the other hand, too much salt is very harmful and can even be lethal. The words “salt is good” in Luke 14:34 and Mark 9:50 are not directly a lesson in health-matters (there is more on those passages, below).
And, how can salt lose its flavor (Matthew 5:13)? It happens when it is contaminated. What can contaminate salt? Well, it can become mixed with earth (dirt). Dust and dirt, in combination with water and air, can change salt into something else. Such salt cannot be used in food, but it can still be used on gravel roads to bind water to the gravel to keep the dust down – that is the probable explanation of what Jesus meant by his words about worthless salt being “trampled underfoot by men.”
The same thing in the believers’ life, Jesus compared Christians to salt. In what way? First and foremost, Christians help preserve a person from sin and its consequences, which is devastation. We can share the good news of salvation to them; thereby, they will confess and acknowledge their need for forgiveness. Christians can help a friend who is struggling with his weakness and help that person to resist the temptation and be delivered from the destructive consequences of it. You see, you are being used to preserve people.
Second, Christians could be used to add meaning to their life by bringing hope and joy. Our environment, our neighborhood; our respective places must be a better place if we are in it. Third, like that of salt, we as Christians can bring healing to our hurting and wounded friends. You never know, but they might be hurting, and your presence and timely encouragement bring instant healing. As we do those things, we are bringing them to the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Salt is so valuable for all of us both today and yesterday, so are you a spiritual salt? The world is decaying and so sick with the cancer of sin; it needs to be preserved by our presence. Reminder, it is not a question whether we are salts or not. Jesus already labeled us as salt. There is one thing that we need to be always aware of – we need to be always in tuned with God for us to have the capability to influence people around us.
