Introduction: Some time back, our denomination’s District Executive minister wanted to get to know me, since I was a new minister in the region. He wanted to treat me to an authentic southern breakfast, so he took me out to a Cracker Barrell Country Store. He ordered “Grits.” I was dreaming about a delicious breakfast. The waitress brought me back to the real world by placing a bowl of Grits in front of me. I put a spoon full in my mouth, you should have seen my reaction. It tasted awful, and bland like glue. My friend told me to add a pinch of salt to it, when I did that and with a bite of beacon, it tasted I wouldn’t say heavenly, but better.
Then I realized how essential salt is! We don’t know the true value of salt until it is not there. After delivering one of his powerful sermons, called “The Beatitudes” or the sermon on the mount, in order to highlight their value, versatility, purpose and the relationship of God’s children to the world Jesus called his disciples, “You are the salt of the earth.” He further went on to say, “But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It’s no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.”
You may have heard this statement, “You are the Salt of the Earth.” The question you need to ask yourself is, what kind of a salt am I? Today we will unpack what it means to be the salt of the earth. Can a Christian lose his saltiness? What are the implications for us personally and as Hope Church to be the salt of the earth? We will be looking into some of the general qualities of salt, the biblical usage of salt and how Christians are to be salt in this world.
I THE USE OF SALT IN THE BIBLE
During my study I learned some interesting things about salt. When we think of salt, most of us probably think of salt as simply a white granular food seasoning. In fact, only 6% of all salt manufactured goes into food.
Apparently, we use salt in more than 14,000 different ways from the making of products as varied as plastic, paper, glass, polyester, rubber and fertilizers to household bleach, soaps, detergents and dyes etc. Salt is actually a mineral in its natural form, it is called rock salt. It is composed of sodium and chloride. Salt is extremely important for the alimentation of all mammals, including humans. Iodine (commonly found in dietary salt) is an important micro-nutrient for humans, and a deficiency of the element can cause a myriad of hormonal problems.
For this purpose, it was sought after commodity since before the Antiquity. The first evidence of extracting salt (by boiling spring water) comes from Romania, and there is evidence of saltworks in China in about the same period. It was highly valued by the Chinese and Arabs, as well as the Romans and Greeks. Roman soldiers were actually sometimes paid in salt – this is where the word ‘salary’ comes from.”
The Bible contains numerous references to salt. It was used as a seasoning, a preservative, a disinfectant, a component of ceremonial offerings, and as a unit of exchange. Consider the following scriptures: It was used as a preserving agent. All the meat-and grain offerings were seasoned with salt (Leviticus 2:13). To eat salt with one is to partake of his hospitality, to derive subsistence from him; and hence he who did so was bound to look after his host's interests. Ezra 4:14 “Now because we eat the salt of the palace and it is not fitting for us to witness the king’s dishonor, therefore we send and inform the king,” (RSV).
God directed Elisha to use salt to cure bad waters and the unfruitfulness of the land (2 Kings 20-22). God used salt to make two important covenants one with the Levites and other with the house of David. Numbers 18:19, “All the holy contributions that the people of Israel present to the Lord I give to you, and to your sons and daughters with you, as a perpetual due.
It is a covenant of salt forever before the Lord for you and for your offspring with you.” 2 Chro 13:5, “Ought you not to know that the Lord God of Israel gave the kingship over Israel forever to David and his sons by a covenant of salt?
Here, a covenant of salt suggests an agreement of enduring qualities. Salt is understood to be the preservative, suggesting endurance. Coming back to our passage, where Jesus used salt as a metaphor to explain the relationship of his disciples to the world. Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth.” Let’s unpack this impactful statement.
II YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH.
Vs 13, “3 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.” Let’s pay attention to what Jesus is saying, he is not saying you should be the salt of the earth or you could be the salt of the earth, but you are the salt of the earth. It is a fact. Whether you know it or not, like it or not by virtue of accepting him as your Lord and Savior you became the salt of the earth. The word “You” here in the Greek is plural which means it applies to all believers and to the whole church. When Jesus said you are the salt of the earth, he wanted his followers to exhibit the qualities that are found in natural salt. He wanted his disciples to endure in trails, preserve the society, heal the broken hearted and bring taste or flavor to the people they come in contact with and much more. Without exception we all are called to be the salt of the earth. The only choice is what kind of salt do we want to be?
III OUT OF THE SALT SHAKER
When Jesus said, to his disciples, “You are the salt of the earth,” he affirmed the fact that through their life style they were to get involved in all aspects of life and make the world a better place. As we know salt is useless unless it comes in contact with the substance it is impacting. For example, you cannot enjoy salt less food just by looking at and admiring the salt in a salt shaker. Unless, the salt comes out and mixes with your food, it remains tasteless and flavor less. Similarly, Christians who are called to be the salt of the earth remain in salt shakers (churches) what impact would they have in the society? Only when they go out and connect with people and share the message of the gospel in practical and most relevant ways.
Jesus challenges us not lose our savor—our saltiness. In other words, he wants to us to be like the useful salt and not like the useless salt which is only good to be thrown on the wayside. In God’s sovereign providence he gave several commandments and moral laws to the Israelites to obey and conduct their daily affairs, matters of business and justice.
Consider these commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not defraud, honor your father and mother, etc. If they followed them they will be preserved as a nation, live in harmony and become prosperous. But if they violated them they will reap the consequences. History tells us what happened to ancient Israel.
It looks like, in the 21st century we are repeating the same mistakes as ancient Israel did in their rebellion against God. Unlike never before, morality is declining in our times rapidly. Instead of following the moral laws of God people are following their own vices and manmade philosophies. As a result, people are hurting and the hurting people are hurting others.
God is calling Christians to be the salt of the earth and not to abdicate their responsibility, instead to take up their position and preserve this decaying society. May I suggest a few things as we seek to be the salt of the earth? Firstly, we cannot give from what we do not have. We can only give from what we have received from Christ. Therefore, it is imperative that we let God work in us, change us from the inside out and empower us by His Holy Spirit to be effective witnesses in our communities and work place.
Secondly, as we go into the world, let’s have this attitude to understand, before being understood. We can begin this process right in our neighborhood. Find out who lives next door to you and get to know them. If they are from other culture or religion be interested in them. Ask questions to find out what their cultural values and religious beliefs are. Be friend them, by inviting them over to a meal or a BBQ in your yard. Summer is a great season for such initiatives. I know it is not easy, but why not give it a try. By doing so we are obeying one of the greatest commandments of Jesus, “love your neighbors as yourself.”
Thirdly, “let your words be seasoned with salt.” Colossians 4:6, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” In Proverbs 18:21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” Where there is so much of harshness and derogatory speech these days, Christians are called to be gracious and kind in their speech. Maybe you are the only Christian in your work place, when everybody around you swear and curses, you don’t follow their way, instead be an agent of healing and comfort through your words that are seasoned with salt.
Finally, do something practical to meet the needs of people. Needs can be overwhelming. The DR outreach team can vouch for that. They realized they can’t meet all the needs there, but they took a step to do something practical, they spent a week in packaging and distributing over 2000 food packets, in addition to ministering to children and building relationships with people.
That is being the salt on the earth. I encourage you to go on a mission trip next year. Why wait until next year, you can join the team that is ministering to the Homeless every third Saturday of each month. Or you can help us with the upcoming Ice-Cream social in the month of August. If you have desire to get involved in outreach please talk to one of us after the service.
If we have eyes to see and ears to hear and heart of compassion we can find people with dire needs all around us. While we cannot meet all the needs, but we can certainly try to meet some of them. In closing I want to give you a challenge. What kind of a salt are you today? Are you locked in like the salt in the salt shaker? My prayer is that God will shake you and spread you into the world where you can make a difference by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen !
