“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has
lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown
out and trampled underfoot as worthless.” (Matthew 5:13, NLT)
Second Kings 2:19-22 tells of a time when a well that supplied water to a city became polluted. It was no longer fit to drink and made the land unproductive. The leaders called for a man of God to heal it. Elisha didn’t call a fast or pray a fancy prayer. He said, “Bring me a bowl full of salt.” That little bowl of salt healed the water forever.
What is it about salt that makes it so significant? We know that the human body cannot survive without salt. It is essential to life. We also know that salt must be replenished daily. And just the taste of salt triggers the production of saliva necessary for the digestive system to function properly.
If the natural human body cannot live without salt, what about the spiritual body? How many people have lived their entire lives without a grain of supernatural salt being sprinkled over their spirits? Just a smidgen can create a divine thirst for God. Maybe that’s what psalmist David meant when he proclaimed, “Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see–how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him.” (Psalm 34:8)
Without heavenly salt, our spiritual hearts will expire long before natural death occurs. Not only does salt soothe sore throats and freshen breath, but it also helps heal the body. A mixture of salt and water relieves the pain of bee stings, chigger bites, poison ivy and open wounds. Could it be that supernatural salt, mixed with the water of life, will ease the sting of divorce, the heartache of wrong choices and the weariness of a life filled with broken promises and dreams?
When Jesus says we are to be the salt of the earth, it means more than most of us realize. In the correct dose, salt improves whatever it contacts. It is time that we comprehend what Jesus meant when He said that we are the salt of the earth. Jesus could have told us to be the cinnamon, pepper or paprika of the earth, but He didn’t. He said to be salt that which refreshes, soothes, heals and causes others to thirst for living water.
If we are to become salt in our cities, it will not be within the confines of our churches or comfort zones. Salt must be sprinkled and I’m afraid many of us have turned into a saltlick, waiting for people to stumble into the church, get a lick or two and go on their way. We need to get outside of ourselves in order to be effective.
A little salt can be powerful. It doesn’t take but a pinch to flavor a whole pot of stew. As insignificant as that pinch is, without it the stew would be bland and tasteless. Significance is found in the power of the pinch, not the size of the saltlick.
This Week
Be the salt of the earth! Apply yourself to those who need a touch from God.
Prayer
“Lord, open my eyes to the meaning of your Word. Teach me how to become salt so that I can impact others for You.”
Steve Vanzant is a pastor and fire department chaplain. The first chapter of his new book The Significance of One can be read at stevevanzant.com.
