Oh, Speaking of Salt

When was the last time you thought about salt? Most of the time we only consider it a condiment. Not high on the topic list at parties. But salt used to be very important.

Salt was used in history as pay for work done. I know if my employer paid me in salt I would be a little offended but it was that valuable and important at one time. Salt was a preservative before our wonderful refrigerators were invented. Salt was used as a cleansing agent. Salt was used as a medicinal cure. And Salt was used on sacrifices with the Israelites starting in Leviticus.

Salt was also an Old Testament Covenant agreement between two parties to symbolize a brotherhood that could not be broken until death. This covenant meant binding permanence and utmost loyalty. A Covenant of Salt was never entered into haphazardly.

In Matthew 5:13

So when Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth,” the disciples and followers that heard this had very different perceptions than we do today.

Did some regard it as being the Gospel element used to give people the greatest, most important, and valuable gift around? Yes. Did some think they were to preserve and uphold righteousness in themselves and those around them? Yes. Did some think their message from Christ should be the cleansing/ curing agent in a worldly society? Yes. And some thought of the Salt Covenant. To them this was a permanent alliance with the Lord Jesus Christ.

And when Jesus added, “but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.”

At that point in His message, I think the people there got it more than we do:

1.     The teaching of Christ and His salvation is the most valuable thing I can give to others.

2.     My job is to live, preserve, and carry on presenting the Gospel of salvation.

3.     The only thing that can really cure sin is belief in Jesus and I need to give out this remedy.

4.     Jesus is giving this covenant to me. Do I accept it or reject it? This is not something to take lightly.

5.     If I don’t grow in love, mercy, grace, peace, humility, and joy (the beatitudes He just gave) then I’m not really helping God’s eternal plan for me and those around me.   

6.     There is nothing more important than salt and so there is nothing more important than being salt for Jesus.

So even though salt is not a hot topic for us,

it is for Jesus.