Scripture
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by people.”
MATTHEW 5:13
Context
Now salt is great. As a red blooded American, I can without hesitation say that I love salty/savory foods as much as the next guy. And that salt, in fact, makes just about everything better.
But here is a question… After a long day, do you ever just get home from work/school, go grab a spoon from your kitchen drawer, open the panty, get your little cylinder of Morton’s salt and just shovel down a few spoonfuls of good ole sodium chloride?
Hopefully not? That would be kind of nuts?
Salt on its own is no good. Things that contain salt? Better.
Salted caramel oreo ice cream. That’s where the good stuff is at. Parmesan truffle french fries. Oh yeah. A ribeye steak, perfectly seasoned an topped with sauteed mushrooms. Heaven. Chili’s chips and salsa (it is legitimately so salty, but so good). All so good…
What is the point? The salt is not the feature. It is a compliment.
Salt brings the essence out of an already wonderful thing. It takes the baseline existing flavor, brings the absolute best out of it – transporting the feature item from bland to flavortown.
Application
Now let’s think about it.
Jesus didn’t tell us to be the steak and potatoes of the earth. Jesus didn’t tell us to be the cookies and milk of the earth. Jesus didn’t tell us to be the Chili’s chips and salsa of the earth.
What did he tell us to be?
Salt.
Why is that?
The Main Dish
God’s creation is the main dish. He made a world full of wonderful people, communities, games, intellectual stimulation, beauty, music, friendship, growth, teams and families. The world God created is full of such wonderful things like these. Things that are good on their own. That is the steak.
Christians are called to be the salt. The compliment to all of those things… The salt that makes EVERYTHING better. Brings out the best of what friendship can offer. Brings out the best of what being on a team can offer. Brings out the best of what learning and growing can offer. Brings out the best of what a family who loves each other can offer.
God’s creation is full of wonderful things. And the Christian is called to step in as a compliment and show the world the best way to enjoy each of them. Salt comes alongside something great and makes things even better.
Ben Stuart, pastor of Passion City DC, has put it this way before… The goal of a good meal is not for someone to walk away from it when they are done and say, “Now that was some good salt.” “What did you think of the salt in that thing?” “Man, I can’t stop thinking about that salt.” No… The goal of a good meal is for someone to walk away and say, “That is the best steak I’ve ever had.”
An Example in Life
In the same way, let’s use your participation in say community at work as an example… You are on a team with other people, some Christians, some not Christians, all coming from different places, all different ages and backgrounds. As “salt of the earth”, the goal of your involvement is not for everyone to wrap up their day and come away thinking, “Man, that Bryan… He sure is awesome.” “That Bryan… I tell you what, we are just lucky to have him. He is just the best.” “Where would we be without Bryan?” That would be like walking away from a meal and saying “That salt was incredible!” While those things would certainly be flattering to hear, they are not the goal. Nor should that be what you want – that would be weird and self-centered. If people walk away from interactions with you and think that, you are not the “salt”.
Instead… The goal of your involvement in this example is for people in your community to walk away from their day and rather say… “You know… I can’t really put my finger on it… but my community is just the best. I am just so thankful for where I am at and who I am surrounded by.” The focus is on “my community”, not “Bryan.” But as “salt of the earth” you bring a flavor and goodness to life that wouldn’t otherwise be there. A greater richness and appreciation for anything seasoned by the “salt of the earth.”
Salt isn’t the main course. It makes the main course, whatever that may be, better.
Make everything (no exceptions) better.
Something to Chew On:
- What areas of your life do you have the opportunity to make better? Is there an area of your life that is bland and lifeless and could use “salt of the earth” to bring out the best of it? Think about your relationships, your involvements, your family, the way you talk to people, what you talk about… How can you make these things better as “salt of the earth?”
- Deep down are you hoping that the focus is on you instead of God? Are you positioning yourself for others to celebrate/recognize the “complimentary salt” (you as a Christian) over the “main dish” (God’s goodness and his creation)?
- Are you a good teammate? A good friend? A good family member? A good spouse. Jesus called his followers to be “salt of the earth,” and salt makes things better… Are you following through on the obligation to make things better as “salt of the earth,” giving the glory to God?
GreatValue Proverb:
Make things better, no exceptions.