Pass the Salt, Please

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. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16 ESV). When Jesus taught his great sermon sitting beside the sea, he used two very common images of his day: salt and light. Today we are going to look at the first of those. In the ancient world, salt was used as a preservative. It still is today. Ham (my favorite), corned beef, olives, pickles, and even anchovies are preserved in brine, a saltwater solution. The purpose of the salt is to stop the food from spoiling, to prevent its corruption. Now when Jesus says we are to be salt, it means that you and I, as Christians, should seek to be a preservative wherever we are. For example, if you are a parent, you can guide and model for your children those things they watch on TV and what they read. You can teach them Christian values, and live as an example to them. If you are the only Christian in your family, then you are probably always the one who is asked to give the blessing over the Thanksgiving meal. That is good, because it means they notice that you are a Christian. They know you are the salt. You also need to be salt in the place where you work. You can refuse to gossip about coworkers, you can do your work without grumbling, and you can be an encouragement to others. Maybe a bunch of the guys are getting together and telling a joke, but when you walk in, everyone falls silent all of a sudden. Why is that? Because they know you are a representative of Jesus. You are functioning as a preservative in that situation. Or maybe you are that one Christian student in your classroom. You need to stand up for Christian values. You can refuse to participate in harmful activities and tell your friends why. Now that is being salt. I didn't say it would make you popular. I said you are being salt. It's hard at times. But you need to do it. As you let the Holy Spirit help you and guide you, you can be a good, salty preservative for those around you. The great thing is that there really is no substitute for the kind of preservative God has placed within you. There are those who claim to have that quality, but none have been proven to last. Be kind. Stay salty through the modeling of grace and peace in your life.