“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.” Matthew 5:13
Our walk with Jesus should make a difference in our lives, it should have an impact not only on our own lives but the lives of those around us and in fact the world as a whole.
What is salt if it is no longer “salty”? It’s just sand really and while sand definitely has it’s uses it does not have all the amazing properties of salt. As humans we would die without salt, while too much is definitely bad for us our bodies need salt to work. Salt has wonderful preserving qualities, has healing qualities, can change the temperature of water and melt ice and enhances the taste of our food. But if it ceases to have these properties it becomes another grain of sand on the seashore.
What then does Jesus mean when he says we are the salt of the earth? I think if we look at this quote in connection to the seven fruits of the spirit it might help us to understand the saying a bit clearer. The seven fruits of the spirit, as they are called, are the attributes which Christians show and act on in their lives, they are signs of our faith in Jesus, gratitude for our lives and the love we experience in knowing God. They are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Our walk with Jesus should make a difference in our lives, it should have an impact not only on our own lives but the lives of those around us and in fact the world as a whole. Now if we do not show any of these gifts in our lives we are no less human and we are not bad people but we have missed the message of Jesus and we have not truly incorporated our faith into our daily lives.
The thing about these fruits is that they are all attributes which are positive, healing, they build up people and relationships. They heal rifts and are helpful in times of crisis. They not only make our own lives better but they make the lives of the people around us better. When we treat others with kindness and gentleness and patience we give them a chance to flourish and grow. When we are faithful and peace-loving we make connections to others and between others. When we experience joy and love we are able to then give joy and love out into the world, shining a light on those who may be experiencing darkness, bring joy to those who are sad.
So imagine a world without those fruits, where people weren’t joyful or kind or loving or gentle, the world would still continue but at what loss. So be salty! Show kindness and gentleness, share love and joy, bring peace and patience into challenging situations, practice self-control and show faithfulness in all areas of your life. Enrich the world around you in whatever way you can and do it in and through the power of the Holy Spirit! Amen.