You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. (Matthew 5:13)
“You are the salt of the earth” is a profoundly simple statement. But what does “being salt” mean and what might that look like for our lives and actions as followers of Jesus? First, salt is about the other. No one confuses salt with food. Salt is seasoning. Its purpose is to help us enjoy the food, not itself. That’s a helpful metaphor for life, service and leadership. Serving is not intended to be about us; it is about those we serve. Salt, like good service, doesn’t bring attention to itself. In fact, when you notice that food is salty, that’s not a good thing. The same is true for truly human, Jesus-like service. It doesn’t call attention to itself. If it does, something has gone wrong. Instead, good leaders draw attention to those they lead. Second, salt is about the goodness of the other. Salt brings out the flavor in food. Salt’s magic brings out the innate goodness in what otherwise might remain tasteless. Salt allows the full potential of food to be savored and enjoyed. In the same way, human beings are meant to bring out the best in others. Our Christian lives are meant to enable people to be the best version of themselves. Influence that only brings out mediocrity in others is sub-par influence. As Jesus demonstrates, when we serve Him and others, we can bring out the full humanity in others. Third, salt is about the uniqueness of the goodness of the other. Salt makes different kinds of food taste different, not the same. Salt doesn’t make steak taste like chicken. It helps great steak to taste like great steak. Salt has the remarkable capacity to bring out the unique created goodness of each food it seasons. So, it is with us. Good leaders bring out the best in others in ways that are unique to who they are. God actually isn’t interested in cookie-cutter people. God has created each person to be unique. And as Christ’s disciples, we need to bring out, to the best of our abilities, the unique goodness of those we serve. One more observation. It’s interesting that Jesus said we are to be “the salt of the earth” and not “the salt of our communities.” While there is little question that Jesus’ words apply to the people we serve, they suggest that being “salt” also applies to our relationship with the physical world. In the same way we are to bring out the best in other people, we are also called as Jesus’ followers to bring out the best in the planet we inhabit, to cultivate the creation we have inherited as stewards. It is no accident that the first call to the first humans is tending a physical garden, allowing its innate goodness to flourish to full fruit. More than ever before, our planet and our people need us to be “worth our salt.” Jesus also issues a warning here; notice how Jesus uses the definite article. There is no other alternative, no other salt. God has no “Plan B.” That suggests there is a distinct and unique role that His followers must play to ensure the flourishing of God’s created world. If we do not fulfill our call, we are useless and the world will remain “tasteless.” That is why Jesus came. Jesus Himself (being God in human form) is “the salt of the earth.” Jesus will yet restore all that is good in God’s creation. And He will do that in fulfillment of God’s intention for Him as a human being. Our calling as His followers in the present is to share in that work with Him, despite the ruin and devastation we may encounter along the way. As Isaiah wrote, we are to be “oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations” (Isaiah 61:3b-4, NIV). This too is what it means to be the salt of the earth. Lord Jesus, make us the salt of the earth again! For Your glory! Comments are closed.
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