Salt of the Earth

In the New World we do not understand the importance of salt as in Biblical days. We know salt is a preservative and that our food tastes better with salt. In ancient times salt was essential for human life. But in Biblical days it was considered a rare and expensive commodity and was even used as currency. It was used for trade and partial payment for workers or soldiers. In the warm Mediterranean climate, food spoiled quickly. Salt halted the decaying process and made it essential for survival, especially through lean seasons. It is where we get the words “salary” and “sale.”

Salt was also used for healing purposes. Ancient people used salt as an antiseptic to clean wounds, prevent infections, and rub on newborn babies to protect their skin and promote health. Have you ever taken an Epsom salt bath? Not only does it reduce stress and make your muscles relax, it hydrates your skin.  

But what does the Bible mean when it says that Christians are the salt of the earth? To be salty means we approach life differently. Because of this,  there is a value add that Christians make no matter where they go. God designed Christians to be the preservative and flavorful seasoning for mankind. By the way Christians live, walking in forgiveness, peace, and joy we set the example for nonbelievers. To be salty means that our influence should make nonbelievers thirsty for more of God and His kingdom.

Our responses should be thought out and intentional because of the power of the Holy Spirit living within us. Possessing self-control, a fruit of the spirit, allows us to pause and think before we respond. James 1:19 says, “You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” In a world where everyone is fighting for respect and their rights, Christians neutralize the atmosphere when we respond with grace. Just like salt halts bacterial growth on food, a Christian walking in the Holy Spirit influences others by halting moral decay.

How is salt formed? The Dead Sea (Salt Sea) has thick crusts of mineral salt along its shores. The salt minerals are scooped up and put in boiling hot water, allowing the impurities to evaporate off and the salt crystals fall to the bottom of the pot.

In the same way, Christians become more like Christ, the more we encounter “heated” trials and tests. The pressure of the heat applied to our life brings to the surface hidden attitudes, wrong motives, and selfishness. Sometimes the “hot water of life” is unbearable. The pain. The disappointment. The lost dream. The child lost way too early. However, our walk with Jesus always comes back to trust.

As we face the purification system that God has uniquely designed for us, may we never forget that God is a good God. Let’s faint not in doing good. Let’s take courage to remain in Him and continue to be the salt of the earth, the one of value in our circles who lives in such a way that others see Christ in us, the hope of glory. May they hunger and thirst for more of Him because of the life they see in us.