Salt

We like it on fries. God likes it on Christians!

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Matthew 5:13

“I wish that the Lord would come today. I don’t know how much more I can take!”

This is the unfortunate attitude of some Christians today. Their lives have become so miserable that they are crying out to be Rescued. The “Blessed Hope” of the believer is no longer a yearning to be with Jesus, which Paul says, “is far better,” but has become a doctrine of desperation to some because of their own unfavorable life circumstances. A few take responsibility for their plight, others blame God and most look to blame others.

We are to walk with God in this life as saved believers that experience God’s peace and joy even through the trials of this life. The key to having the proper outlook is found right here in Matthew 5:13. We need to realize that we are Salt.

Salt was used as a preservative and often enhances the flavor of our favorite foods. Jesus said that we are to be salt to the unsaved of this world in order to preserve and enhance their lives through the ministry of the Gospel. We must realize primarily that we are put in very tough places or situations to be their salt or the positive factor in making things better through our hope and faith in the Lord as we extend those things to others. Our walk with God and testimony before men are of utmost importance. The reality very often reveals that we allow the circumstances to get the better of us by not exercising the spiritual resources that we are given. WE become “trodden under foot” and join the ranks of the defeated instead of enjoying victory through our Savior. Israel was delivered from the bondage of Egypt with the mighty hand of God and preserved for two generations in the wilderness. Yet, while God’s blessings were upon them they became a “stiffnecked & rebellious” people and earned God’s disappointment because of their constant “murmuring & complaining.”

It is a shame that we often find ourselves as Christians complaining about the lot that God has dealt us instead of being thankful and content. It is often a struggle to go to work and not take part in the latest gossip of the breakroom or run down the boss along with everyone else. Some Christians murmur about their home life and carry on about their wives and children. These are the exact times that we must remember that we are salt. We are part of the solution and not victims of the circumstances. God is still in control and we must trust him to work and even use us in the process. Prayer beats pouting every time.

Work
We are to be the salt of our workplace. We should be on time, work hard. follow instruction and be loyal to those that God uses to provide our livelihood. Being lazy, gossiping, demeaning our supervisor and resisting to perform our job is not being good salt. We need to guard against becoming the salt that has lost its savour. In Genesis 39, Joseph was wrongly put into prison. He did not become depressed because of his unfair situation but immediately went to work as the salt of the prison house.

But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. 23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper. Genesis 39:21-23

Life
Life is never fair! We shouldn’t expect it to be. We need to be the salt of our family, friends and neighbors. Many Christians are unhappy with their marriages and children. We may or may not be the cause of the problems but still need to deal with these issues nonetheless. Complaining about your wife or husband at work or to your friends only makes you look bad. Why did you choose or agree to share your life with them if they are that bad? “Oh, you don’t understand, they have changed.” I know. I have changed a lot too. Maybe we need to be the salt of our marriage and ask the Lord to help us to work hard and love unconditionally to get back the passion and desire that we once cherished in our marriage relationship.

Perhaps our children are the way they are because we have neglected to love them enough to parent them. The Bible says that children are a blessing from the Lord, yet they seem to suck the life right out of us. Being salt to our children means making the daily effort to love them and parent them. Neglecting them or giving them everything that they want will only lead to disaster. Spend time with them, pray for them and with them, set their boundaries and provide a disciplined routine for their lives, love them and let them have a little liberty in the environment that you have built around them and you may see a much better attitude and brighter future.

Being a pastor is like being “the old woman who lived in a shoe.” it is very difficult to meet the needs of many people at one time. I believe that Moses was the greatest pastor that ever lived. Even when the children of Israel chided with him, rebelled against him and wanted to stone him to death, he still got on his face before God and pleaded for Jehovah to take his life and not theirs although God was angry with them for their behavior. Moses was surely the salt of Israel.

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin. 31 And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. 32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin–; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. Exodus 32:30-32

Church
Like our homes, our church should be a place of peace and refuge for the believer. However, there are many places of worship that have become tough and grisly and in need of salt. Politics and contention often take over when the Spirit of God is not leading. We should be excited about attending church services and fellowship with the saints of like precious faith. We should be like salt on fries as we look forward to each opportunity to worship. Many Christians are easily offended and find it easier to move on than to stay and be the salt of the local church. They may find that a new place has the old problems. It is better to be where God has called you and look to Him to help you make your church a better place to worship. The church at Corinth had a lot of problems. These issues needed to be identified and corrected. If everyone simply quit and moved on we would not have been given the wonder instructions by the Apostle Paul who shows us even today how to be the salt of the church in I & II Corinthians.

We salt the foods that we love and should also salt the ones we love with love.
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. I Peter 4:8