Salt has been a mineral of high value from the beginning. The World Book Encyclopedia estimates “more than 14,000 uses for salt;” of which only 5% is for use in food.  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus paid those who would be Christians the highest compliment when He called them the salt of the earth.

Matthew 5:13 (ESV)
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.

What is so valuable about salt?  It’s not very precious, that is, it is not hard to find, and it does not cost that much to purchase.  There is certainly no shortage of salt in the world.  So, why is salt such a valuable and essential item?  It is because of what it can do.  The power of salt is found in all its valuable uses.  Someone may ask, “What is salt good for?”  Well, let’s see!

Salt has the ability to preserve.  Before the days of refrigeration, meat was packed in layers of salt to preserve the meat until it could be consumed. There is a storage facility in Kansas where everything, from court documents to original classic film negatives, is stored in a salt solution for preservation.  Now, Jesus says that we, as Christians, are the salt of the earth.

Someone may ask why God has not put an end to this sinful society in which we live.  Why does God continue to endure all of the ungodliness that seems to prevail?  Peter tells us it is because of the longsuffering of God and His desire for men to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).  As long as God has some people in the world to influence and persuade men to turn from their destructive ways, there is hope for repentance.  The presence of godly people keeps God from destroying this world.  Sodom and Gomorrah is a good example of this.  Read Genesis 18 to see how God dealt with them.    Truly, righteousness exalts a nation (Proverbs 14:34).

Salt also has the power to bring the best out of things.  A little dash of salt does wonders for a well-cooked meal.  It brings out the hidden flavor and makes everything taste better.   As citizens of God’s kingdom, we should have this same kind of effect on the world.  First, our presence should make the world more palatable to God.  We are God’s seasoning agent in the world.  But also, we must affect the world as well.  We must bring out the best in the people around us.

Have you ever noticed that if you live godly, people around you often put away their sinful behavior in your presence?  People who curse regularly will try to refrain from cursing when in the presence of a Christian.  If you have gained the respect of your peers because of the good life that you live, they are less likely to tell inappropriate jokes or engage in backbiting and gossip in your presence.  You influence them to live more godly, at least while you are around.  You bring out the best in them.  That’s the power of salt.

Another characteristic of salt that relates to our Christianity is that it induces thirst.  People who are exposed to excessive heat take salt tablets to increase their bodies’ craving for water. Their salt-induced thirst prevents dehydration.

As Christians, we should cause the world to be thirsty for Christ.  How can we do this?  We can do it by sharing the wonderful truths of the gospel with the world and letting it see how those truths carry us through even the most difficult times in life.  We do it by allowing the world to see what it is like to live a worry-free life that is always under the watchful eye of God and His providential care.

Let us make sure that we are having a salt-like impact on the world.  And, remember,  if salt has lost its taste, it is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.