Matthew
5:13-15 J.B. Phillips Translation says,
“You are the earth’s
salt. But if the salt should become tasteless, what can make it salt again? It
is completely useless and can only be thrown out of doors and stamped under
foot. You are the world’s light—it is
impossible to hide a town built on the top of a hill. Men do not light a lamp
and put it under a bucket. They put it on a lamp-stand and it gives light for
everybody in the house.”
To
fully understand just what these verses mean we need to understand what both
salt does and what light does. They
change things. The taste of food is
changed once salt is added to it. When
the light is turned on in a dark room you can see where to walk without
stumbling over the room’s furnishings.
They change things.
We
are well acquainted with the first 12 verses of Matthew 5 and call them the
“Beatitudes” or, as I remember them taught in Vacation Bible School, “the attitudes of how you should be”.
In them Jesus shared what blessings would come to those who acted in a
sacrificial way or experienced misfortunes in their lives. Jesus then adds to those what we read in
verses 13-15. Let’s call them the
“change your world” verses. They are at
the heart of the “great commission” (Matthew 28:16-20). Jesus encouraged His people to be like salt
and light.
Be like salt. The value of salt, especially in the ancient
world cannot be under estimated. Roman soldiers received their wages in salt
and the Mosaic Law required that all offerings presented by the Israelites
contain salt (Lev. 2:13). Proverbs 11:1
in the AMP states, “A false balance and dishonest business practices are extremely offensive to the Lord, but an accurate scale is His delight.” Have you ever eaten something that is too
salty? It is also true when something
has received no salt. When food has too
much salt or not enough we tend to not eat it, yet just the right amount makes
for a delicious dish, drawing us back for seconds and even thirds. Salt can lose its flavor. When it does it’s no use to add it to
food. The only thing it is good for is
to throw out on snow and ice to make for easier and slip-free walking. Jesus wants us to be like salt…just the right
amount and flavor. When we are that
right amount then when we share about His love with others they get just enough
of a taste to want more!
Mark
9:50 in the AMP states, “Salt is good and useful; but if salt has lost its saltiness (purpose), how
will you make it salty? Have salt within yourselves continually, and be at peace with one another.” What other uses are there for salt? It is used as a preservative as in meat
jerky’s and ham. It is used as a
cleansing agent as in salt treated swimming pools which prevent the same
diseases as chlorine but is easier on the skin and clothing.
Sailors are often referred to as being
“salty”. Their lifestyle leads them to
act and behave like their profession, a little rough around the edges, yet you
could tell by just being around them they worked on the sea. Have salt within yourselves continually. Now why would Jesus say
this? I believe it implies we can be
without salt at times. How can we
witness and draw someone to the Lord if what we are sharing has no
“taste”? How do we stay “salty”? Regular times of prayer and reading in God’s
Word lead us to be more like Jesus:
balanced with just the right amount of flavor.
When I was in mission school I tended to be quite
judgmental. Before mission school I came
from a church where I was in a number of leadership positions. When I went to mission school the Lord made
it clear to me that I would become a follower and release all leadership
responsibilities to Him. This was
difficult for me. I would see others
struggle to do the things I could do with ease.
I judged them and found them wanting AND just had to share my way of
doing things all in the guise of “helping” them. One day I found the following scripture on a
note in my dorm closet, ”Let your speech at all times be gracious and pleasant, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how to
answer each one [who questions you,” Colossians 4:6. The Lord really convicted me of my attitude
and disobedience regarding this and He enabled me to then, with the right
attitude of love, to share with those struggling to learn to lead without
disrespecting them. He taught me how to
be “salty” with just the right amount of flavor.
Be like light.
Light
not only lights up darkened areas for us to see and not stumble but it also provides
warmth. On a cold day I love getting
into the car after the sun has been shining on it. How comfortably warm that feels. Light also produces growth. Have you ever worked in a garden? It not only takes soil and water to grow your
tomatoes, zucchini and watermelon…it takes light. There are parts of the Antarctic that never
receive light…and nothing grows there because of the lack of light and
warmth. Light also acts as a cleanser. There are a number of organisms that are
killed when exposed to light and its radiation.
When I received that note with Colossians 4:6 on it in mission school it
lit up the area of my life that was disobedient to Jesus and as I repented
those ugly spiritual germs were killed off.
Jesus wants us to be like light, illuminating Him and His Kingdom to all
those around us, but also allowing that light to warm them up to the gospel.
So,
let me ask you, how effective are you in changing your world for the
better? Is the light of Christ
illuminating His love and power to those in sin’s bondage around you? Is the salt of His Word cleansing and
promoting healing in your neighbors and friends through you? What can you do better to effect positive
change around you? What can you do
better to be like salt and light?
Dr. Michael Youssef puts it
this way, “In Philippians 2:15, the apostle Paul says, "Believers,
you are to shine as light in the world". The Greek word used here is very
similar to the word for the beacon that a lighthouse emits. That beacon is
bright and unmistakable in its purpose. It warns of danger. It directs to safe
harbor. It provides hope for those who have lost hope. Every day we are surrounded by people groping
around in the darkness, separated from the God who loves them. God uses His
children, like beacons from a lighthouse, to show the way to Him. Either we are "salt" and
"light" by the grace of God, or we are willfully disobeying the One
who saved us for such a time as this. If we are being "salt" and
"light" then we can expect fruit from our faithfulness.”
Let God have your best for
His glory; be the “salt” and “light” He has called you to be.
