You Are the Salt of the Earth

I shared yesterday that part of our purpose is to add salt and light to the lives of others! You may be wondering what it is about salt that makes it so special. In Jesus’ day, during the Roman Empire, salt was very valuable. It was used as a preservative, a cleanser and a form of money. With no modern refrigeration, the way people preserved meat was to dip it in a salt brine and hang it up. Vegetables and other foods that would otherwise perish were also preserved with salt.

In addition to being a preservative, salt was a cleanser and bacteria killer. With all its beneficial properties, it became a form of exchange. Essentially, it became money. Pliny the Elder of the Roman Empire, was an author and a naval and army commander. His writings tell us they paid their soldiers in handfuls of salt. It is from this exchange that the phrase “You are worth your salt” originates. The idea of salt is that it’s not just delicious, it’s nourishing, cleansing, and it’s valuable — it’s precious to our Creator! Jesus didn’t say He was the salt of the earth. He said, “You are the salt of the earth.”

Friend, make sure you don’t lose your saltiness. Think of all the hurting people who say, “I  need help, I need to pay my rent, I need a friend!” When people are worrying about their own circumstances, Jesus turns the entire situation around and tells them they already have everything they need to be salt and light to someone else. The world will be a better place as we become salt and light to each other.