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Like salt, the more additives we allow into
our lives, the less effective we’ll be. Impurities such as anger, bitterness,
addictions, doubt, and pride do not contribute to our Christian testimony. The
Bible admonishes us to be righteous—that is, in right standing with God—and to
love Him above all others and our neighbor as ourselves. Doing so will make us
“worth our salt,” which means being effective and deserving of one’s pay.
Eternal
Perspectives by Sally Bair
Worth
Our Salt
On our trips to Alaska and British Columbia, my husband and
I often stopped in Banff Provincial Park where the mountain goats gathered to
lick the salt from the steep, rocky cliffs that surrounded a lake. All of
us—humans and other animals alike—must consume salt, whether we find it on
rocks, in certain foods, or from a grocery container.
Too often, however, Americans consume too much salt in the
processed foods we eat. For many, too much salt can affect our health
negatively, including our blood pressure. Medical groups recommend no more than
2,400 milligrams of salt daily.
Because of the high consumption of salt by Americans, we
celebrate No Salt Week during the first week in October. Perhaps for some,
using no salt for a week would be helpful. And those of us who use little table
salt and eat few high-sodium, processed foods probably would take little heed
of No Salt Week.
However, too little iodized salt can be as dangerous as too
much. A little salt is essential in replacing the salt and water we lose each
day through sweat. And sea salt provides essential nutrients. In fact, salt is
vital to the diet.
Jesus spoke of the importance of salt in our spiritual life.
"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how
shall it be seasoned? It is then good
for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men." (Matthew
5:13)
Pure salt keeps its flavor. In Israel, some salt was mixed
with other ingredients and, when exposed to the elements, the salt would be
“leached out.” Such was used for coating pathways and thereby “trampled
underfoot by men.”
Jesus’ sermon is meant for His followers—individuals as well
as the Christian Church as a whole. He wants us to keep our lives pure so we
might salt the earth with the Gospel and help hold back evil. When we refuse to
allow “additives” from the world—anything that will keep us impure or
ungodly—into our inner character, we will positively influence the decaying
world around us. By sharing the Gospel of Christ through holy example as well
as words of love, we will be the salt so desperately needed in our ungodly
society.
Lord, thank You for creating us for the purpose
of testifying to Your love and mercy. Show us how to be “worth our salt” as we
use our God-given character in sharing Your love with others. In Jesus' Name,
amen.
