Am I Salty?

This morning I was reading through Matthew, Chapter 5 and ran across a few verses that I have reflected on in the past, and I took some time to reread those reflections. Here are the original verses from Matthew 5:13-16 NIV:

[13] “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. 

[14] “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. [15] Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. [16] In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

The last three verses were the Gospel for our wedding ceremony, and they have been verses that have been a focus for us throughout our life. The one that grabbed my attention this morning was verse 13, speaking of us as the "salt of the earth".  

Salt is an interesting topic and I have written about it several times, for it does come up in Scripture with some regularity. There was even something called a Salt Covenant, and I have spent some time looking at that, and other “salt” verses.  

Today as I read this verse, I am just reminded again of how the Church, the Body of Christ is supposed to stand out, to be different from the rest of the world. We are supposed to be the “Salt of the Earth”. 

We have an old saying that someone is “Salt of the earth” and that generally means that they are just fundamentally good people, honest, hardworking, reliable, etc. While those are praise-worthy, I think the Lord was speaking about a bit more than good wholesome character. His next words, point that out in how He says we should be the “light of the world”. Again, we could try and paint a picture of this being similar, just being a light of goodness to those around us, and while that is admirable, I think it again sells short the meaning that Jesus is pointing to in this His most significant teaching, as veritable constitution of the Kingdom!

I believe that in both cases, Jesus is saying that we should be different, and this is for a reason. Jesus specifically says if salt loses its saltiness it is good for nothing. A light that is hidden does no good either (verse 15), and it is meant to be seen.   

The question in my mind today is how is the Church, the Body of Christ different than the world? How is our light supposed to shine? What is supposed to differentiate us from others or from the world?

Jesus, in His last discourse found in John, speaks quite clearly about what is supposed to differentiate us, it is supposed to be our love for one another! Here are His words, found in John 13:34-35 NIV:

[34] “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. [35] By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

What's our salt, or our light supposed to be?  

Our love for one another! 

In case we aren’t clear, this isn’t some emotional good feeling type of love, this is love defined by Jesus as loving the way He loved, sacrificially, serving and in humility (see verse 34).

So my questions to myself today is “Am I salty, and am I a light, and am I demonstrating the Love of God for my friends, family, and everyone I meet?  

Do people walk away from meeting me thinking, “He sure was different in a good way!”?  

Do people feel loved by me?  

Do I love people the way that Jesus loves them?

All good questions, and all ones that I know I can work on! I pray that I might be “Salty” and that in that people might see the Love of Christ directed towards them! I want to be a light pointing to and reflecting Jesus’ love!

Help me Lord, for I am too often saltless and and dim!

Lord help us to consider our ways, to look at our lives and to choose to be different in a good, salty way!

Amen and Amen!