“Salt makes food taste good. It gets more flavor”, she told me. Probably not a surprising observation except it was seven year old, Sophia, telling me of why she salts her food.
One day Jesus gathered His disciples around him and began to teach them about salt too ….
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.” (Matthew 5:13, NLT)
Salt poured on food can act as a preservative. Pour it into an open wound, however, it will sting and eventually bring healing. Either way, salt makes changes which are permanent.
It slows down the decay process only if the salt remains pure, undiluted. While salt cannot lose its saltiness, it can lose its effectiveness.
So why was Jesus asking this question? And what was He trying to tell the disciples?
- We are all placed strategically in our world. Jesus wants for each of us to prevent moral decay in our own communities.
- Jesus was warning us to beware of compromise. The only way salt becomes ineffective is once diluted or mixed with other substances. Jesus wants for our lives to remain holy in an unholy world.
- Just as salt enhances flavor, we can be people who enhance the environment around us. We can have a positive influence bringing splashes of joy and love to those around us.
We are each here to be the salt which brings out the flavors of God in our flavorless world. His flavor of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Some days and situations may require more salt than others. Our saltiness is needed every day, everywhere we go.
And so, Jesus asks the question …
If we, His people, lose our saltiness, how will they get a taste of godliness?
This is Day 3 of 31 Questions Jesus Asked. You can find the entire series here.
Today I am joining … Weekend Whispers and Faith ‘n Friends .
Love this – more than just being a flavor enhancer, love the reminder that salt preserves, too. And also that we can’t let our salt get diluted in this world. blessed to have stopped by here this morning.
Kathryn, I have so been struck with this thought with all which is transpiring in our world. We have the hope others need. May we not lose our “saltiness” & offer a word aptly spoken to those around us.
Thank you for this excellent and encouraging article! I was reading 2 Peter 1:3-11 and I think your article connected so nicely to it! The Lord is good!
I just took the time to read the verses you mentioned. It ties in beautifully. As we “make every effort”, we will grow & add the qualities so needed today. He will give us all that we need to live godly lives & be the salt & hope those around us need.
I love your explanation of this scripture, especially since I’m a new(er) student of the Bible. This world is certainly in need of more salt! Prayerfully I can add my share as a believer. Blessings!
You surely will as you pursue Him in & through His Word. Read the passage shared in the above comment (2 Peter 1:3-11) as it is encouraging to read that God gives us all we need for living godly lives. It has been so good to meet you!