A Few Thoughts On Salt

A few thoughts on salt:
Early on, Jesus said to his disciples in the Sermon on the Mount, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” Matt. 5:13

Salt in Jesus day was a particularly precious commodity. Apparently as today, flavoring food was at the top of the list. Close behind were other uses: as a preservative for food and an aid to healing. It was even used as partial payment to Roman soldiers; consequently the word salary. It is believed by historians that salt was so precious in medieval times many wars were fought over the seasoning. In our culture salt isn’t used for pay in the military. However, its uses are farther reaching than in ancient times. Today salt is used extensively in water softeners; for de-icing streets in the winter time; for medical drips when patients are too ill to eat, saline solution; and if your supply of Colgate or Crest is depleted, one of the best dental cleansers of all time is a combination of salt and soda. Good for the gums, too.

It was our Lord’s mode of operation to teach using parables and metaphors of well known practices of the times. His teachings were profound in their simplicity. In an age when ritual sacrifices were the norm in the Jewish culture, His parables of salt and light were readily understood, in the secular view at least, by all who had an ear to hear Him.

But the Biblical importance of salt goes back much farther than Jesus’ time. In Leviticus, the third book of the Pentateuch, Moses at God’s direction wrote in chapter 2, verse 13, “And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering.” In addition, God says to write, “With all your offerings you shall offer salt.” Interesting, salty stuff from where I sit.

For followers of Jesus Christ like you and me, what does salt signify? Well, when Jesus said we were the salt of the earth, I really believe He expects us to exhibit in our lives as believers the properties of salt. Three major attributes come to mind: salt ads flavor; salt preserves; and salt stimulates thirst. Jesus expects our lives as Christians to reflect these properties of salt. Our lives should be flavorful and preserved from spoilage, and we should live in such a way that those with whom we come in contact on a daily basis experience hunger and thirst for whatever it is that makes our lives so meaningful. In addition we should be an aid to spiritual healing, pointing others to eternal life through a relationship with our Lord.

And so, as I see it again for the first time, salt is a far more precious commodity than is generally believed. When Jesus said we were the salt of the earth, He must have seen great potential in the careless sheep He was committed to shepherd. He also said we were the light of the world, which we shall examine at another time.

Check this out: http://www.saltinstitute.org/29.html