Matthew 5:13
"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
We hear a lot these days about watching our salt intake. Doctors who report on television news stations – or have their own TV shows – are warning us to greatly reduce the amount of salt in our diet. On the other hand, professionals who are evaluating the work of chefs and “would-be chefs” on a number of cooking shows routinely mention salt. There is a delicate balance… not enough, and the dish is bland and lacks flavor. Add too much, and all you taste is salt.
Few people really enjoy bland food… or food that lacks enough salt. Most people detest a dish that is too salty! And this analogy in Matthew 5 for salt directly applies to our Christian life.
Jesus has told us that we are the salt. How we conduct ourselves… the things we say and do… enhance the “flavor” of His work. In other words, when people see us living in joy… gladly doing for others… speaking kindly and holding our tongue when many would lash out or say something ugly… they see the goodness of God through us. When we “take the high road” and quietly work behind the scenes to make life better for others… when we show compassion… and most especially, when we demonstrate faith in the midst of challenges… people see the power, grace, mercy and love of God in action.
At the same time, when we add “too much salt,” we have a negative effect. When we behave badly, then claim to be Disciples of Christ… people notice. When we go on and on about how active we are in ministries… give people the impression that the Sunday School class to which we belong, the Bible study we attend, and our mission work and generous spirit are what define our Christian life, we have “over-salted” – and it often leaves a foul taste with others. I’m not saying we can’t ever tell someone we will pray for them (if we indeed pray for them afterward), or that it is in any way wrong to attend a Bible study or Sunday School… or to do missions work. But the delicate “seasoning” comes in how we present our lives to others… how well we balance the “salt.”
Salt is a subtle flavoring. When there is not enough of it in a dish, people notice – and miss it! When there is too much salt, people notice, also… and for many, the dish is ruined. If we over-salt our Christian witness with too much outward show of how wonderful we are… how faithfully we serve… what martyrs we are for Jesus… we may do more harm than good for the kingdom of God. If we are careful and attentive with our “salt,” God can use us to bring out the very best flavor of a life in Christ… and others will take notice and want more for themselves.
We all know people who are “heavy-handed with the salt shaker”… and I’m betting you know a few who are on the bland side… literally, and in their daily Christian living. It’s time for us to take a hard look at our Christian “salt shaker” and see where we should correct the balance. Have you checked your “salt” lately?
©2011 Debbie Robus
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