Anchor My Faith

Salt of the Earth

Scripture: Matthew 5:13; Mark 9:50; Luke 14:34-35

This is a rather short narrative section made up from verses and pieces of verses from three gospels.

This narrative section is about two characteristics that our lives as believers should display: salt of the earth and light of the world. Our focus in this lesson will be on the characteristic of being the salt of the earth. The narrative that relates to salt is: ^{Mt 5:13} “You are the salt of the earth. ^{Mk 9:50} Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? ^{Lk 14:34} Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, ^{Mt 5:13} it is no longer good for anything. ^{Lk 14:35} It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away ^{Mt 5:13} and trampled under people’s feet. ^{Mk 9:50} Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another. ^{Lk 14:35} He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Carefully look at the above narrative and notice how content from the three gospels are woven together in the harmonization process to obtain good material on salt. First is the statement that we are “the salt of the earth.” There is something we must learn about how salt was used at the time the gospels were written in order to understand how salt applies to us as people. At that time salt was used primarily as seasoning and as a preservative. As believers, we are to make life more pleasant for others in acts of kindness and service. “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4 ESV). And when we speak: “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (Colossians 4:6 ESV). The seasoning of salt is to lead to unity and peace among people.

Sin tends to destroy and enslave, but salt is to preserve. We are to be holy and righteous as God is and so by how we live and instruct others, we are to protect the world from moral corruption. By our prayers, we are to bring down God’s blessings upon people and influence them in saving the world from evil. As we watch the rise of evil in the west, we should realize that maybe our salt is growing weaker.

The notion of salt growing weaker is implied in: “Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again?” (Luke 14:34). Salt is good as long as it has not lost it saltiness. As long as we as believers stay close in our relationship to Jesus Christ and continue in his word we can continue to work as good salt, but if we drift away then our effectiveness will decline. ^{Lk 14:34} Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, ^{Mt 5:13} it is no longer good for anything.” If we as believers lose our saltiness, then of what value are we as an influence in the world.

Salt that has lost it saltiness ^{Lk 14:35} “is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away ^{Mt 5:13} and trampled under people’s feet.” If we as believers lose our saltiness, then we are in danger of being thrown out and trampled under the feet of evil people in acts of violence and various forms of crime.

We are to ^{Mk 9:50} “Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another. ^{Lk 14:35} He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Let us be sure that we are good salt and as much as possible are living at peace with one another. If this saltiness leaves us, then our effectiveness as believers will be lost and the door is open for evil and the loss of freedom.

Prayer

Father, this lesson is a good reminder of the importance of our role in the world. We need to realize that our saltiness is not so good as it was because we have allowed it to become diluted by the world. If we listen carefully, we can hear the feet of those coming who will trample us down. Great will be our suffering and loss.