Salt Shaker Shake
Before the invention of canning or refrigeration, the primary method of preserving food was with the use of salt. For this reason, it has long been considered valuable. The word “salt” comes from the Latin sal and is the root word for salary, (Latin salarium). The saying to be “worth one’s salt” means to be worth one’s pay. In Roman times, salt was used as currency to pay the soldiers’ wages and could be traded for the purchase of other necessities. Having such importance in the economy of New Testament times, no wonder Jesus used it as a metaphor for the Christian life. Jesus called us the “salt of the earth”. (Mat. 5.13)
Jesus compared believers to salt for a reason. Salt is a dietary mineral that is needed by all living creatures. Salt regulates the water content in our bodies as well as enhances the flavor in what we eat. Thus, in comparing salt to our life we can say that a believer enhances and gives meaning to life as well as brings balance and hope to a dying world. After received Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are transformed from an insignificant grain of sand to a valuable, life enhancing mineral. Our transformation is impregnated with the purpose, being the sweet aroma of Christ’s presence here on the earth. Having purpose and not fulfilling this purpose is like being salt that has lost its flavor.
In Luke 14.34-35, we find a reference to salt once again. This time it is in the context of the cost of discipleship. The loss of saltiness occurs in one’s failure to take up his cross and follow the Lord. The cross that Jesus is here referring to is not the endurance of suffering, but rather the crossing of wills. It is the saying: “Not my will, but Yours be done.” It involves the renouncing of self and embracing the purpose to which we have been called. Flavorful salt is 100% commitment. Anything less is unacceptable.
The other day, I was looking on the internet for a certain ministry in England and came across one with the name “Salt Shaker”. I like that name. It brings to mind an image of what the Church should be. If we believers are the salt, then the Church is the agency by which the salt is distributed to influence and flavor this sin-stained world. It is the purpose of the salt shaker to shake, not just to sit on the table, holding the salt in. Not salting the food is just the same as having unflavored salt. Both are worthless and to be trampled underfoot.
It is amazing to be able to make a difference in the place where God has us. I remember a time when I worked in an office with about 20 other people. Each of us had our desk, but there were no divisions; just an open space. The atmosphere was quite negative as some colleagues complained continually, others swore in every sentence and others tried to lighten the pressure with off-colored jokes. I was the only believer. I prayed for my colleagues and our working environment. I sowed seeds of encouragement and kindness into this polluted atmosphere. Soon everything changed. I would meet with colleague after colleague during our lunchtime, where they opened their lives to me and sought my counsel. I was able to pray with several and the working environment changed. As Paul said to the Colossians, that their conversation should be “seasoned with salt”, (Col. 4.6), so I proved that a little salt can make quite a difference. Let’s shake the salt out to where it is needed.
Scriptures to meditate on:
Mat. 5.13-16; Mark 9.50; Luke 14.34-35; I Peter 4.12-13; Col. 4.6