The Taste of Salt
Mt 5:13, 13 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor (savour-JK)? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

You are the salt of the earth. What does Jesus mean by this statement? Literally. We are the flavoring of God to the world. Like little sprinkles of salt on food.

Lets look at salt for a moment. Salt is a mineral and contrary to general belief does not just loose its saltiness over time. Because of its natural stability an outside influence must affect it to become tasteless. From what I understand, it would take either water or electric charges to break down salts composition. (If I am wrong sorry, I am not a scientist, but this is what I’ve been led to understand)

You can also dilute the strength of salt by mixing it with other minerals making the salt less potent. Back in the day if you were not careful you could have added too many impurities making the salt tasteless.

Salt will either make or break a meal. To little and the meal is tasteless. Too much and it destroys the meal making it inedible.

So just as you think about how salt affects a meal, we must think of how we affect people around us. How much salt (Christ) are we going to share with our friends, neighbors and co-workers?

Interesting side note: The King James translation uses the word “savour” instead of flavor. What’s cool is that the Scots translation for savor is tang. A far more descriptive word especially for salt. Tang Rocks!

Five Points to Ponder
Salt in the saltshaker is of little value
What happens to salt in a shaker that sits with no use?
What good is salt on its own?

Salt Preserves
Salt makes foods last for extended periods of time
What other ways is salt used to preserve?

Salt Purifies
Salt is used to purify and soften water
Can you give another example of how salt can purify?

Salt Produces Thirst
Can you see any significance to the Christian faith?

Salt loses its Tang when an outside force is allowed to affect it.
What happens if we water down the Gospel so it is acceptable?

The deeper meaning
According to Leviticus 2:13, every offering to God in the Tabernacle had to be seasoned with salt. Here is the significance of this, leaven (symbolized sin) was not allowed to be present in any of the offerings Leviticus 2:11.

We are called to offer our lives as living sacrifices to God (Rom. 12:1). But instead of sprinkling salt on ourselves, as the custom was in the Old Testament, Jesus told us to have it in ourselves.

Christ is the pure sacrifice and our salt, (lives) if it is good will enhance others desires to come to know the Father. In other words, our lives should create a thirst in others to have what we have (The Savior).

Col 4:5-6
5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.

Esp 5:15-17
15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

So what happens to the salt that looses its “Tang”?
It is thrown away or used on walkways to prevent vegetation growth. So what was once used to improve the flavor and preserve is now used only to destroy.

A small, almost insignificant pinch of salt, well placed will last a very long time!