How To Be An "Old Salt"
(Part I)A few weeks ago I made a small batch of butter. The cream I used was good and fresh, and the butter it produced was smooth and creamy. In spite of all this, when I sampled it I was terribly disappointed: it was flat and tasteless. What was the problem? I had forgotten to add the salt! Salt is essential for many foods if they are to have their fullest and richest expression of flavor ("savor").
Jesus stated very clearly that: "You(all) are the salt of the earth" (Mt. 5:13). He was speaking directly - and very emphatically - to those people who were following Him. And so today we who follow Jesus are the salt of the earth. But what does that mean? For one thing it means that we add seasoning and savor to the world around us as God works in our lives. And what does that look like?
Do we bring joy, zest and "flavor" to those around us, or do we bring only pessimism and gloom? Do people know us as someone who knows the Giver of Life and who wants to share that life with others, or do they know us as a bitter, closely-guarded separatist? Do we live a truly "sold-out" life of devotion to God, or are we absorbed in self-protection and fear? Do we live life to the fullest, or do we spend our days trying to make sure that nobody enjoys themselves (including ourselves)? Do we help to draw others to our Savior?
Jesus said in John 10:9-10: "I am the gate [for the sheep]; whoever enters through me will be saved...The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Jesus brings true, abundant, eternal life. Now THAT'S serious seasoning that can bring out the fullest and richest expression of any life - let's spread it around!
Another use for salt in ancient times was as a fertilizer. Small amounts were applied to poor soil in order to make it more productive. So then, how can the people of Jesus act to enrich (fertilize) the world around us? We can keep our ears, eyes and hearts open so that we recognize spiritual interest in others. And once we have sensed this we can take the opportunity to share Jesus' truth and encourage folks along in their journey towards the Lord (1Pet. 3:15). Do non-Christians sense us inviting them to join us on our journey with the Savior?
We can also encourage the growth of fellow Believers through our words and actions. When a brother or sister in Christ is having doubts about God's goodness or struggling with their faith because of life's circumstances, do we chastise and belittle them for their lack of belief, or do we tenderly come alongside them and listen to the cry of their souls; waiting for the proper time to remind them of the reality of God's character and His love for them?
We should enrich the soil of one-another's hearts with truth: "For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations" (Ps. 100:5). And we should fertilize one-another's trust in Jesus with future hope: "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words" (1Thes. 4:16-18). We will explore more about this salty topic next week