I don’t know about you but I love the parables in the Bible, Jesus took everyday things and made lessons out of them. I believe one of the reasons He did that is because when we see these common everyday things we will remember the lessons He was trying to teach us. I want to look at one of those parables today, when He said “Ye are the salt of the earth.” What on earth did He mean by that? How am I suppose to be like salt?
Salt is very tasty when you put it in food, but if you get to much salt the dish can be spoiled. Salt is also something the body needs, not a whole lot but a certain percentage, it helps to make our body function. Some times we take salt for granted, but what if we had to go without salt? All of our food would become blah. that is the purpose of salt, making things taste better.
However, you may wonder how does this apply to me? We must be like salt, adding our influence, or you could say flavor to this world, but we can also add a bad influence, or too much salt and then your example would be ruined.
The things we do and say are very important and can leave a lasting impression. If you say to someone that this or that is wrong, but they see you do that very thing, they will call you a hypocrite. On the other hand, sometimes, you don’t have to say anything they will see you do something and ask you why you did that, then you have the opportunity to witness and tell them why you did that certain thing. It could be how you dress, eat, why you don’t work on Sabbath, or why you don’t keep pagan holiday, to give a few examples.
Salt is not only used for flavoring food, there are different types of salt, one type of salt makes the ice melt on roads in the winter time. When I used to live in Wisconsin, we would have to buy a bag for the winter time.
Well, like that salt must melt the hard and cold hearts of those around us. When the sun (Son, Jesus) hits its rays on the salt it causes the ice to melt. So shall it be with us, when we pour our salt on someone else’s life and leave a good influence, when the powerful Son hits that heart, the ice will begin to melt!
“Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” The people could see the white salt, glistening in the pathway, where it had been cast out because it had lost its savor and was therefore useless. Jesus used salt as an illustration of the Christian’s life and teachings upon the world. Were it not for the few righteous who inhabit the earth, the wrath of God would not be delayed a moment from punishing the wicked. But the prayers and good works of the people of God preserve the world; they are the savor of life. But if Christians are only so in name, if they have not virtuous characters and godly lives, they are like the salt that has lost its savor. Their influence upon the world is bad; they are worse than unbelievers. {2SP 214.1}
There are also different edible salts, such as Sea, Celtic, Himalayan, and Real salt. The Himalayan, Real, and the Celtic salt have more mineral values in them then the Sea salt does. So you could say that we go through different stages of growth, at first our salt may not influence or melt that many people, but the longer that we are studying and praying and spending time with the Son, the more “mineral” value we will possess.
Another interesting thing is, the Himalayan, Celtic and the Real salt you will use less of, because they are a bit saltier in their taste. You may want to ponder on that one! 🙂
I believe that when Jesus said, “Ye are the salt of the earth.” He meant that we (Christians) are the ones who are influencing others the most, by our example. Let us live up to the light that the Lord has given us, so that we may be called the salt of the earth. He also said that if “the salt has lost its savor wherewith shall it be salted?”
In other words, if the salt would lose its flavor, we couldn’t use it to help make food taste good. So, it will be with us, if we lose our connection with Jesus, how can we have a good influence on others?
We present the faultless pattern to all Christians. Says Christ, “Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.” The light of Heaven is to be reflected through Christ’s followers to the world. This is the Christian’s life-work to direct the minds of sinners to God. The Christian’s life should awaken in the hearts of worldlings high and elevated views of the purity of the Christian religion. This will make believers the salt of the earth, the saving power in our world; for a well-developed Christian character is harmonious in all its parts. {2Red 68.1}
In the ritual service, salt was added to every sacrifice. This, like the offering of incense, signified that only the righteousness of Christ could make the service acceptable to God. Referring to this practice, Jesus said, “Every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.” “Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.” All who would present themselves “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God” (Romans 12:1), must receive the saving salt, the righteousness of our Saviour. Then they become “the salt of the earth,” restraining evil among men, as salt preserves from corruption. Matthew 5:13. But if the salt has lost its savor; if there is only a profession of godliness, without the love of Christ, there is no power for good. The life can exert no saving influence upon the world. Your energy and efficiency in the upbuilding of My kingdom, Jesus says, depend upon your receiving of My Spirit. You must be partakers of My grace, in order to be a savor of life unto life. Then there will be no rivalry, no self-seeking, no desire for the highest place. You will have that love which seeks not her own, but another’s wealth. {DA 439.2}
Let the repenting sinner fix his eyes upon “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29); and by beholding, he becomes changed. His fear is turned to joy, his doubts to hope. Gratitude springs up. The stony heart is broken. A tide of love sweeps into the soul. Christ is in him a well of water springing up unto everlasting life. When we see Jesus, a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief, working to save the lost, slighted, scorned, derided, driven from city to city till His mission was accomplished; when we behold Him in Gethsemane, sweating great drops of blood, and on the cross dying in agony,–when we see this, self will no longer clamor to be recognized. Looking unto Jesus, we shall be ashamed of our coldness, our lethargy, our self-seeking. We shall be willing to be anything or nothing, so that we may do heart service for the Master. We shall rejoice to bear the cross after Jesus, to endure trial, shame, or persecution for His dear sake. {DA 439.3}
I want to be salt, and not lose my flavor, how about you?
A Star Witness 