Today we think little about salt until we taste something that is supposed to have salt, but it doesn’t. The recipe may only require a “pinch” of salt, but that pinch makes a huge difference in the taste. I am a salt-acholic! I want my foods that have salt to taste salty. I can also tell if it has been left out of a recipe on the first bite. The Bible speaks of this tiny item 41 times. A grain of salt may seem insignificant, but it makes a difference.
Jesus uses salt in an illustration in Matthew 5:13. He refers to those who are following Him as the “salt of the earth.” Jesus says we are the salt, not we should be, the salt of the earth. With that in mind, let’s check ourselves to see if our salt is of any value to the kingdom.
Matthew 5:13 “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”
Salt preserves. My mom has told me many times about how they preserved their meat when she was growing up. She lived on a farm, and when they would kill a hog, they would dress it out, and salt down the meat. This was the most common and inexpensive way to process any type of meat or fish. Salting would draw out the moisture and kill the bacteria. We are to be the same way in the world. We are to be so close to Jesus that we are very different from the world. If we are, we will have a preserving effect on those around us. Just like a piece of meat that has no salt, compared to a piece that has salt, it should be easy for others to know by our lifestyle, that we belong to Him.
I believe the Christians in this world are the only thing that is preserving the door of opportunity for those who are lost without Jesus. Millions have never heard the gospel and it is our responsibility to be salty enough to reach them. We need to preserve the gospel on earth until all have heard it.
Salt makes food taste good. The way we represent Christ can make him appealing to a lost world, or we can turn them off. If we reach out in love, real love, Christ’s love will shine through. Salt is very potent; it is usually used in recipes in very small amounts. In a cake, you usually have one-half to one teaspoon. A teaspoon is not very much when you consider the amount of other ingredients in the cake. However, it makes a huge difference in the taste of the cake. A little salt goes a long way. When we have a Christ-like character, we will have a huge impact on those around us. Our actions and words can open the door for others to have a desire to know what is different about us. I have been asked how I can handle the adversities of life the way that I do. I wanted to say, “I’m so glad you ask,” but I simply told them it was Christ in me. In one situation the person responded, “but I’m a Christian too.” This gave me the opportunity to explain the difference between us. While he attended church and was a person with high moral values we were not living life from the same foundation. I explained, “you have a religion, but I have a relationship.” Soon after, that man and his wife came to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Salt also causes us to thirst. If you eat something very salty your body will crave water. We ought to live in such a way others become thirsty for Jesus when they spend time with us. Those who don’t know Him should be as the person I mentioned before, there should be a thirst to have a drink of what we have. As a Christian, I should make other Christians thirsty also.
Salt is a part of our body. We physically can’t live without it. Just as we can’t live without a little salt physically, neither can the world know Jesus without our being the salt God has called us to be. Think about this, how salty are you? You’ll know by the way people react to you. Are you being an influence for the cause of Christ? If so, take advantage of the fact everyone needs salt?
