Are You Salty?

 

[Jesus said] “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).

 

Some time ago Mary and I were eating at a Tex-Mex restaurant and before we were served the traditional bowl of chips and salsa, the server asked, “Would you like the no-salt chips and salsa?” At first I thought he was kidding, then I thought, well… we’re old and he probably doesn’t want me to have a heart attack in the restaurant because of too much salt; but, then I thought who wants chis and salsa without salt… yuk! I mean, how many of us get really excited when we see a bag of chips or a box of crackers that says “reduced sodium”? Well, probably none of us.

 

Because salt is delicious. It’s why chips and crackers and French fries and pizza and many other things taste good. Salt exists to make food better. That is one of its God-given purposes. In our reading continuing through the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says we are “the salt of the earth” . . . and “the light of the world.” He doesn’t say we “can be” or “should be” these things. He says we already are, by way of our new identity in him. Jesus expects us to bless people, to build them up, and to do what we can to help meet their needs. He expects us to use our words and our actions to stick out in this dark world, pointing people to the kingdom of God.

 

This isn’t limited to formal ministry in the church. The ways we treat our spouses, talk to our coworkers, and use our resources or engage with social media are all examples of how we are called to be salt and light. Every sphere of life presents us with salt and light opportunities. If we walk in step with Christ, putting his desires ahead of our own, we are like a welcome seasoning to enhance the taste of good food, or like a beacon of light shining in this dark world. Go ahead… pour on that kind of “salt”!