Matt. 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”
I scooped up a big spoonful of brown beans that had been meticulously slow cooking all day, blew on them until I was sure they were just the right temperature, and offered up this mouthwatering serving of deliciousness to my anxiously awaiting taste buds.
My taste buds have never forgiven nor pardoned me for my culinary mistake to this day. You guess it; I forgot the salt!
Jesus said that ‘we’ are the salt of the earth. As always, Jesus had such a colorful way of describing things; I believe He did this so that we would draw an image in our minds, which makes more of an impact – we remember images better than we remember words. I know that I will never forget the taste of those blah, bland brown beans rolling around in my mouth until I finally choked them down. It made an impact that I have not forgotten.
Jesus used salt to illustrate how we should be the seasoning in our families, our neighborhoods, and everywhere we go. We should seek to enrich every life we touch. I have a friend who is constantly praying, “What can I do for this person Lord?” That’s an amazing testimony.
What is our salt? It’s kindness, mercy, love, charity, compassion, forgiveness, goodness, etc. Adding salt changes the entire flavor of food. Imagine life without salt. Imagine a home without love, without kindness, without forgiveness. Hopefully, every life that we have had the occasion to touch has been left a little better, that our kindness has made hearts a little lighter, and days a little brighter.
However, if we lose our saltiness, we become useless to positively impact the world. Work to STAY kind, compassionate, generous, etc. Saltiness can easily become bitterness when we dwell on negative circumstances in our own lives. Satan would love nothing more than to steal your influence. Take your troubles to the Lord in prayer. He will restore your peace and your joy if you ask Him to. Don’t let the bad in the world change you, YOU change the world for good. Practice these traits so that you will not become a useless, bitter salt has-been.
When the world hands you its worst – take it patiently, wrap it up in love, season it with forgiveness, and hand it back out to others transformed – turn curses into blessings! Jesus said, “Love your enemies!” (Mark 6:35)
I read a story in Albert Barnes commentary (paraphrased):
In eastern countries, salt may be impure or mingled with vegetable or earthy substances, so that it can lose it saltiness and all that remains is the earthy matter. This salt is good for nothing. It is then used like gravel on paths and walkways.
It is found in the earth in veins or layers, and when exposed to the elements (the sun, rain and air) it loses its saltiness entirely. Scientists broke off a piece of it (the part that had been exposed to the elements) and even though it had the sparkle and particles of salt, it had perfectly lost its flavor. BUT, the inner part, which was directly connected to the rock, retained its flavor.
Ah ha! Did you GET it? The way we STAY salty is to stay connected to the ROCK! We cannot season anyone else’s life until we ourselves are first seasoned properly. When we are exposed to the harshness of this world, we can lose our zeal. But, spending time with Jesus (Our Rock) transforms and refines the negative environment of our own hearts.
Time with Jesus will keep us salty. O taste and see that the Lord is good! (Psalm 34:8)
Try everyday to pour out a little seasoning into someone’s life.
Be a salt shaker…!
