You are the Salt of the Earth

Salt has been used since ancient times as a seasoning, a preservative, a disinfectant, etc. In a booklet put out by a salt company in the 1920s, the list of uses include keeping the colors bright on boiled vegetables; making ice cream freeze; whipping cream rapidly; getting more heat out of boiled water; removing rust; sealing cracks; removing spots on clothes; putting out grease fires; killing poison ivy; and treating sprains, sore throats, and earaches. The salt industry goes still further, claiming 14,000 different uses for this under-appreciated substance!

Today salt is almost universally accessible, and relatively cheap (33¢ @ Aldis). However, years ago salt was difficult to obtain, and so it was a highly valued trade item. Until the 20th century, salt was one of the prime movers of national economies and wars. In the Middle Ages, salt was known as "White Gold." In the first century CE, Roman soldiers of the time were paid a salarium, the basis of our modern word salary. Salarium is Latin for salt.

The Bible contains numerous references to salt. In various contexts, it is used metaphorically to signify permanence, loyalty, durability, fidelity, usefulness, value, and purification. It was also used as a component of ceremonial offerings, and as a unit of exchange.

Ye are the salt of the earth. Salt preserves from corruption. As the disciples of Messiah we are to preserve the world from general corruption. Whatever becomes utterly corrupted is doomed to be destroyed. Just like food left out on the counter, our world is corrupt and doomed for destruction unless we do something about it.

Corrupt: (1) willing to act dishonestly in return for money or personal gain. (2) evil or morally depraved.

The remedy for our world is us. We are the salt of the earth. That means we need to be like salt is to food, if we are going to save this world from corruption and destruction.

How does salt preserve food from corruption?
It must come in contact with food. If we are going to save this world from corruption and destruction, we must come into close contact with people so that we can preserve them.
Preserve: (1) keep safe from harm or injury. (2) treat (food) to prevent its decomposition.
If we are simply in physical contact with the world, we won’t preserve it. We need to treat the world, and do something to prevent corruption from taking place. Our words and actions are needed to preserve people from corruption and destruction. First, we may need to help people realize they are corrupt. If you don’t believe your food needs to be wrapped in salt, or put in the fridge, you’ll leave it on the counter. We first must realize the food will perish if not covered in salt or put in the fridge. If people don’t think they are sick, they won’t go to the Doctor. First, we must help people realize they are corrupt; that they have a problem and are not in right standing with God. Once they believe this, things can change.

The heart and mind of people must change if they are to respond.
(Psalm 14:1-3) The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.
(Gen 6:5) The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.

We can make laws that line up with the Bible, but that alone will not work. Israel was a theocracy; it had the Bible as it’s law book. It didn’t work. There were godly laws, but the people had corrupt hearts. As I think about this, I acknowledge that we need to have godly laws, but if we want to save people from corruption we must see their hearts changed. Godly laws won’t change people; changed hearts will!

How do hearts change? It’s a work of the Holy Spirit.
(1 Cor 2:4-5) My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.
(John 16:8) "When (the Spirit) comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:"
Ryrie: The Spirit will help break down the indifference of the typical pagan who has no conviction of sin, who holds a low regard for righteousness, and who pays no heed to warnings of the coming judgment.

Jesus said we are the salt of the world, so what is our role in all this?
Prayer + God’s Word: We share God’s Word and then pray that the Spirit would take those words and change their hearts by His power.

Salt was also used to ratify covenants. In Numbers 18:19, it says, "All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer to the LORD, I have given to you and your sons and daughters with you as an ordinance forever; it is a covenant of salt forever before the LORD with you and your descendants with you."

The "covenant of salt" means that God’s covenant or contract is intended to last forever. This world needs to see that covenants can last forever. Covenants, contracts and agreements are being broken every day. Marriage contracts are being broken every day. "Sorry, I’ve changed my mind. I want to be with someone else.." Marriage covenants are intended to last as long as we both shall live. Young people today need to meet those of you who have been married for 30, 40 and 50 years. They need to meet people who honor their marriage covenants, and learn how you do it so they can do it too. Married couples need us to be the salt of the earth.

Business contracts are being violated and broken every day. We read about athletes breaking their contracts all the time. A few years into their contract, some athletes refuse to play until the team renegotiates a new contract. Contracts need to be honored. If an athlete refuses to honor his contract and not play, he should not be paid, not be allowed to play for anyone else, and he should be penalized in any appropriate way. We need to be the salt of the earth and honor our business contracts.

In biblical times, men carried pouches of salt on their belts. When a pact, promise, or contract was made, the men from each of the participating parties would intermingle the salt from their own pouches with the salt from the pouches of the other party. This reminded the men that they could not retrieve their own salt from the other pouch, symbolizing the fact that they could not go back on their word.

When Jesus says we are the salt of the earth He might be saying that we have great value. As I mentioned earlier, Roman soldiers were paid a salarium, or salt. In Jesus’ day salt was an item of great value.. Therefore, when Jesus says we are the salt of the earth, He is saying that we are people of great value. The Bible says that the first will be last, and the last will be first. The people who seem to have it now, will wind up last. Those who don’t have much now, will wind up getting what really matters. God’s Kingdom, which is the world that really counts, is being prepared for people who have a relationship with Messiah.

The rich, famous and talented may be getting the best of this world, but this world is corrupt and headed for destruction. They’re not as rich as they think they are. The Kingdom of God, which lasts forever and has streets of gold, is promised to us. God values us so much, that He is preparing a perfect home for us that we will live in forever. Plus, He values us so much, that He will personally live with us forever. We are the salt of the earth. God says we have much value.