Salt of the Earth

Salt is a staple seasoning in most meals. It enhances flavours, brings out the best in ingredients, and ultimately makes food more enjoyable. But what if you were to go to a restaurant and be served a meal without salt? You would certainly feel like something was missing, and the meal would be less enjoyable than it could have been.

This analogy is what Jesus used to describe his followers when he said, "You are the salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13). Jesus did not say that we 'should' be like salt or try to become like salt. He simply said that 'you are the salt of the earth'. Another interesting part is that while there are so many precious things on earth - gold, diamonds, rubies, etc. - the Lord never told anyone that they are a diamond or a ruby. He compared us to salt. In doing so, He was emphasizing that we have the ability to enhance, impact, change and influence our surroundings, just like salt does in a meal.

The Bible mentions salt numerous times, and each time it highlights the value and significance of this simple mineral. In Leviticus 2:13, God commanded the Israelites, saying, "And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt." This covenant of salt symbolized a lasting agreement between God and His people.

In the book of Job, salt is described as a valuable commodity, just like wisdom and understanding. "Can something that has no taste to it be eaten without salt? Or is there any flavor in the white of an egg?

⁷"My soul refuses to touch them; Such things are like loathsome food to me [sickening and repugnant]. ⁸"Oh that my request would come to pass, and that God would grant me the thing that I long for! ⁹"I wish that it would please God to crush me, that He would let loose His hand and cut me off. ¹⁰"Then I would still have consolation, and I would jump for joy amid unsparing pain, That I have not denied or hidden the words of the Holy One." (Job 6:6-10).

The New Testament also speaks of salt, and how it is an essential part of the Christian's life. In Colossians 4:6, Paul instructs his readers saying, "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one." Here, salt is seen as an agent that brings out the best in speech and helps Christians to communicate effectively.

So what does it mean to be the salt of the earth? It means that we have the ability to bring out the best in people, to enhance their lives, and to be a covenant of salt with God. We have the responsibility to impact, change and influence our surroundings for good, just like salt does in a meal. We are to be a shining light in a world that is often dark and difficult to navigate.

As followers of Christ, we are called to be different from the world. We are to be a house on a rock when all that remains is shifting sand. We are to be a refuge for people who do not know God.

Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, ¹"Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. ²But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. (Revelation 11:1-2)

If salt loses its saltiness, it is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. (Matthew 5:13) This is similar to the prophecy in Revelation where the Gentiles will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. Just like how the court outside the temple is given to the Gentiles to be trampled underfoot, if we, as followers of Christ, lose our saltiness and fail to bring flavour and impact to the world, we too may be trampled and forgotten.

Salt of the Earth

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