How “Salty” Are You?

How  “Salty” Are You?

Matthew 5:13  “You are the salt of the earth.” (NIV)

Usually when you call someone “salty,” you are describing someone who is set in his or her ways or blunt. This is not what this text is suggesting. Jesus describes his disciples as “salt of the earth.” 

In this text, salt is an incarnational term. Salt can only be useful when in contact with an object. Disciples also must be in contact with people to be useful and impactful.

Salt vitalizes. Sports trainers urge their athletes to use salt while working out in the summer months. If the body is depleted of this mineral, the athletes begin to slow and bend over, lose their passion, and become fatigued. Taking a small tablet of salt or drinking a salty sport drink renews the body with energy to perform.

Salt preserves. Food is salted down and can be kept for months.

Salt flavors. Food without salt is bland and has no taste. You add salt to taste for the best result. Yet, you cannot eat salt by itself. It must be mixed in properly to the proportion with other food.

So what happens if salt loses its’ saltiness? It loses it value and must be thrown out. 

Why did Jesus want us to view ourselves as the “salt of the earth?” Christians live in a world that is morally dying, and decaying daily in vice, crime, selfishness, covetousness, hatred, and lust. Believers are called to be as salt, sanctified by the Word and the Holy Spirit. By our words and actions, we are to convince the world that it deeds is wicked in the sight of God and in need of salvation.

Where Christians stop acting as salt, there the nation or the community sinks into a rotten and smelly decay that leads to God’s wrath and destruction. Are we divinely salty or have we lost our saltiness?

Our challenge is to daily be aware of our salt value and its strength. If we conform to these world standards by not living up to our calling, we have lost our saltiness. We must demonstrate daily that we are impactful throughout our living throughout our communities.

Questions:

1.     How has your faith revealed your saltiness?

2.     Have you thought about the decaying conditions in some communities where there are churches nearly on every corner? If so, why do you think this condition is occurring?

3.     What are some of the actions you can be doing to help this world from decaying?

Applications:

1.     If we are too much like the world, we are worthless.

Revelations 3:14 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation:

15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth! (NLT)

Romans 12:11 Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically. (NLT)

2.     Christians should not blend in with everyone else.

Luke 22:60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” And as soon as he said these words, the rooster crowed. 61 At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered that the Lord had said, “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny me three times. 62 And Peter left the courtyard, crying bitterly. (NLT)

1 Corinthians 6:1 When you have something against another Christian, why do you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter, instead of taking it to other Christians to decide who is right? (NLT)

3.     We should affect others positively just as seasoning brings out the best flavor in food.

Colossians 4:6 Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the right answer for everyone. (NLT)

Ephesians 4:29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. (NLT)

1Peter 3:15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. (NLT)