Matthew 5:13
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.”
Salt may seem like an odd thing to compare to the Kingdom of God, especially today. But if you walked the earth during Jesus’ time this comparison between the Kingdom of God and salt would have spoken volumes about what it meant to be a true follower of Jesus Christ.
First, everyone knew salt as a preservative. Because there was no electricity during Jesus’ time there was no refrigeration. That, of course, meant that meat, such as that from a lamb, would go bad very quickly. Salt was put on meat to keep it from rotting.
We, as followers of Christ, are called to preserve the faith. We are called to lead others to it, we are called to bring up our children in it, and we are called to continue to pass on the stories and essential teachings. How does the Christian faith survive generation to generation? Believers must pass it on.
Second, salt was used, as it is today, to enhance the flavor of foods. I know many people who can hardly sit down to a meal without using lots of salt. Why? Because they say it makes it all taste better.
We are called to “flavor” this world with the love of Christ. As any Christian will tell you, life is better in a relationship with Jesus Christ. We are called to serve the least of those around us and to reach out to those in need. We are called to take care of widows and orphans, the sick and the poor. We should make it our goal to leave this world a better place because of our lives, and not to waste life on selfish passions and desires.
If we don’t live our lives in a way that preserves the faith and makes the world better, in the words of Jesus, we are no longer useful.