A Savory Life
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. Matthew 5:13
Salt was a vital part of daily life in biblical times. Not only was it used to preserve food, it was also used for healing and cleaning. For the Israelites, it had spiritual significance too: salt was added to every sacrifice (Leviticus 2:13). Why? It indicated that the sacrifice was without defect or corruption. It also symbolized both the purity of the worshiper’s heart and the permanence of their commitment to obey the Lord.*
When Jesus told the crowd that they were “the salt of the earth,” He gave them an expansive responsibility. First, they had to maintain personal purity. As Jesus said, “If the salt loses its saltiness . . . it is no longer good for anything.” Second, He was challenging His listeners to make a permanent commitment to live by God’s rules and not their own. Their effectiveness in ministry was contingent on the “saltiness” of their lives.
No matter how pure salt is, it isn’t much good as long as it sits in the cupboard. That’s why Jesus added the phrase “of the earth.” Just like salt, we are agents of preservation and purification. Our spiritual saltiness should enhance the world by preserving truth, promoting righteousness, and cleansing wounds. Salt improves the flavor of food; likewise, our faith should add zest to our lives, motivating others to taste Christianity, rather than push it away.
Paul told the Colossians that their words should always be gracious, “as though seasoned with salt” (4:6 NASB). By speaking truth, we uphold God’s standard of righteousness in a world that is constantly being corrupted by wickedness. By speaking the truth with grace, we proclaim the true nature of God and we promote healing instead of injury.
The Salt Institute claims that salt has over 14,000 uses.** In how many ways and in how many places can we shake out God’s grace and have a savory influence on our world?
DIG DEEPER:
Read Mark 9:38-50. What was bothering John in verse 38? Why do you think Jesus ended the conversation with this advice: “Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other”?
Read Judges 9:45, Jeremiah 17:6, and Ezekiel 47:11. What happens to land if it is salted? What does that imply about the potential effect our “salt” can have on the spiritual harvest we desire? How can we avoid that problem?
How can we ensure that our words are seasoned with grace? Meditate on Colossians 3:15-17 and Colossians 4:2-5.
See another devotion about salt in the Bible, Salt.
Denise K. Loock
*See “Salt” in Unger’s Bible Dictionary. Revised and Updated edition. 1988. Moody Press. Pages 1113-1114.
**http://www.saltinstitute.org/Uses-benefits/Consumer-salt-tips