What do people with the beautiful attitudes described in the beatitudes do for the world?
Salt
Jesus describes them as being like salt.
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 under foot by men.”
To understand this verse we must know that salt in those times was not defined in chemical terms as pure sodium chloride or calcium chloride as today, but was a rock which contained a salt, and as such the rock called “salt” could lose its saltiness. That being said, Jesus compliments His disciples by calling them salt, and by extension all those who make the world taste good because of the attitudes He spoke about.
Light
The same could be said of light. These beautiful attitudes provide light in an otherwise dark world.
Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
Being a light is intentional. We may not hide our good deeds, but do good things with a particular attitude in mind. We do not do good to be spiritual show-offs. Jesus later spoke of praying, fasting and giving alms with the wrong self-glorifying motive to be seen by men. Here he shows that we ought to do good works in front of men, but with a different attitude, the notion of glorifying God.
If we want to be like Jesus, we will be salt and light. We will make the world taste better. We will preserve the good. We will also make the world a much brighter place.
