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 NIV
Salt is an essential ingredient of our food. It is used for seasoning (enhance the flavour) and for preserving food (maintaining its existing state – protecting it from spoiling). Jesus, in this verse, speaking to the disciples, and now unto us calls us the salt of the earth. I pray God will help us to realize the implication of this calling. And to live out to fulfil this ministry in Jesus’ name.
Before we consider what it means to be the salt of the earth, there’s something I would like to reiterate again from today’s verse. Beloved, you are not ‘a salt in the earth’, you are ‘the salt of the earth’. If ‘the earth’ (where you are as a child of God) would ever need salt, then you are that salt. Meanwhile, no one else is able to perfectly fit into your role as ‘the salt’. Every disciple of the Lord Jesus has their role as the salt of the earth.
Likewise, it is “of the earth” because, the earth belongs only to the living. So, you can only be “the salt” as long as you are alive. Unless you remain in Christ Jesus – stay connected to Him and draw all you need for life, you cannot be the salt of the earth. Therefore, you must be spiritually alive (John 14:4-5). Furthermore, you must be physically alive as well. The earth is for the living, and that is where you have the role of being the salt. Let’s consider this scripture again from The Message version:
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.
Matthew 5:13 MSG
Beloved, may I please remind you of something very important. God has placed you where you are right now so that you can bring out the God-flavour there. So that the people might taste godliness through you. There are people who may never have the opportunity of tasting godliness if you failed to be the salt. While others may fall into errors and become rotten, if you fail to preserve them as the salt.
How well have you been doing as the salt? What will people say about you at home, school, office, or anywhere else you are? If you would not be the salt in that space, or lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness?
