A Pause to Ponder God's Word
"Being Salt"

It is not uncommon for the fact that Christians are the light of the world to be referred to. Though we still have much to learn about being the light of the world, it is a metaphor we understand quite readily - at least we think we do. Ironically, it is not the lead metaphor when used by Jesus in His sermon on the mount (Matthew 5:13). He first speaks about us being salt. Both metaphors are the concluding statements of the sermon's introduction in which Jesus describes the character of His disciples. We refer to this description as the Beatitudes. Jesus' disciples are beatitude people and beatitude people are salt and light. Obviously Jesus used the two metaphors in combination because neither of them alone could convey what He wanted to tell us. Nevertheless, we gain a better understanding by dealing with them separately. Though we are more comfortable with the light metaphor Jesus began with; "You are the salt of the earth."

To be salt is to do what salt does. To understand what Jesus meant by calling us salt we must discover what the original hearers understood salt to be. In Jesus' time salt was not the taste enhancer we most often regard it (though Christians do add flavor to the world). In His time salt was used as a purifier and a preservative. People put salt in or on foods to keep bacteria from growing and thereby preserve them for later consumption. They even used salt to cleanse wounds so they wouldn't get infected (and we think iodine is bad).

As the salt of the earth we are to be purifying preservatives. People who are filled with righteousness (5:6) are people who are peacemakers (5:9) and blessers of their persecutors (5:10). Beatitude people are people who go the extra mile (5:41), turn the other cheek (5:39), love and care for their enemies (5:43), and give to the needy (6:2). Beatitude people are God's people whom He uses as instruments of His redeeming, cleansing, and healing work in our lost, dirty, and hurting world. As we, by the power of His indwelling Spirit, en-flesh and speak His Word on this earth we are salt in the world's wounds. Is it any wonder that the world sometimes lashes out at us? Have you ever gotten salt into a cut? Our living out His righteousness in a world bent on self-destruction keeps her from accomplishing it. Can we even begin to imagine what the world would be like without Christians?

Let's not over look an obvious characteristic of salt. It makes people thirsty. We not only keep the world from self-destruction and make them aware of their wounds, we make those in the world thirsty for Christ - The Living Water. They may not readily realize what they are thirsty for. Nonetheless, as we live out our lives in Christ and speak His Word, we make others thirsty God.

There is much to learn about being salt and light. But one simple way of understanding this metaphor doublet is: as salt we make people thirsty; as light we illuminate the way to the Well of Living Water which never runs dry. It is crucial that we live what we are in our world. If we do not Jesus tells us we "are no longer good for anything but to be trampled by men. (5:13) It is also crucial that we live out what we are because the lost hurting infected world has no hope with out salt and light.

Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
Return to Devotional Index