Mathew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth, 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.
The meaning of the word “salty” has been morphed as sassy or angry in modern usage. However, Jesus used the analogy of salt to explain our portfolio on the earth. We must be “the salty seasoning” in our domain. Salt adds taste and flavour yet is invisible in the pleasurable food that we enjoy. It is not our presence but our influence that must impact the world.
Has the sea salt in your pantry ever lost its flavour? In all these years I have never noticed salt become stale or tasteless. So what did Jesus mean when He said, don’t lose your taste or flavour? In Bible times, they did not have supermarkets that sold salt on shelves or sealed packages. They harvested their own salt from the Dead Sea. The raw salt was not purified and cured. It came in blocks. They wrapped the salt in a heavy cloth and dipped it into the dish that had to be salted. They would dip it a bit longer if it required more flavouring. Over a period of time the salt in the salt bag would be diluted and completely lose its savour. The remains of the salt bag (dirt or sand) would be thrown in the walkways and trampled under feet. Jesus warned us never to become too diluted, polluted or manipulated with worldly ideas, trendy philosophies and modern dogma and lose the Godly flavour from our lives.
Three ways to remain salty, savoury and significant:
1. Shelf-Life: One of the astounding properties of pure salt is that it does not expire. However, adding other ingredients like iodine reduces its shelf-life to 5 years. The God flavour in our lives must not have a best before or expiry date. Losing our fervency when we face defeat or disappointment will make us lose our God-flavour. We must remain ready to add seasoning at all times. Saltiness and Godliness have no shelf-life expiry.
2. Soluble: Exposure to air, water or hydrogen will dilute the salt and make it lose its strength and saltiness. Salt must be preserved in an airtight container. Moisture melts salt. Salt when sprinkled will change the taste without changing the colour or texture of the delicacy. It remains as the invisible tastemaker of any dish. To remain flavoursome and influential we must never seek prominence. If we secretly desire to be noticed, applauded or recognised, we are losing our saltiness. Be soluble, invisible and spicy. Salt is invisible yet influential .
3. Season: Salt once added cannot be removed. It dissolves and completely mixes with other ingredients. If salt is overpowered then the dish becomes good-for-nothing. Our influence must be enjoyable, enlightening and elucidating. Pushy, aggressive or overwhelming arguments will dilute the truth of God’s compassion, love and mercy. Too much salt will make the dish salty and too little will make it bland and tasteless. Season your conversation with palatable appetising salt of God’s goodness.
Let us add God flavour, savour and seasoning of God’s goodness to those around us.
Mark 9:50 “You are the salt of the earth”.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, may I be a salt shaker in Your Hands to add God’s flavouring to conversations, confusions and contentions. May I be the invisible influence of your goodness on the earth. Amen.
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