Salt and Saints

Good morning. So once more we are looking at Matthew 5:13. Today I want to look at uses for salt. How is the use of salt related to God and being a Christian? As you read on you will see that there are many uses for salt and well, as I said read on and I think you will see how it applies to Christians and our usefulness for God's kingdom.

“Ye are the salt of the earth” (Matt. 5:13).

The Englishman who invented potato chips sold only a few packages a week until he thought of putting salt on them. At first, inventor Frank Smith fried thin slices of potatoes and peddled them on a very small basis. Then he tucked a little pinch of salt wrapped in blue paper into each package. His business boomed to the point that he had to purchase a huge farm to grow his potatoes. Today the potato chip business has spread all over the world. But without salt it would have died in England generations ago.

Likewise, without the salty influence of Christians, the Christian movement would have died long ago. Perhaps all of the uses of salt both ancient and modern should be applied to the Christian life.

I. Some uses of salt related to God.

The sacrifices and offerings were salted: "Every grain offering of yours, moreover, you shall

season with salt, so that the salt of the covenant of your God shall not be lacking from your

grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.” (Lev. 2:13) and "You shall present

them before the LORD, and the priests shall throw salt on them, and they shall offer them up

as a burnt offering to the LORD.” (Ezek. 43:24).

Salt also symbolized the irrevocable character of God’s covenant with Israel: "All the offerings of the holy gifts, which the sons of Israel offer to the LORD, I have given to you and your sons and your daughters with you, as a perpetual allotment. It is an everlasting covenant of salt before the LORD to you and your descendants with you." (Num. 18:19).

Salt was used in the sacred incense: "With it you shall make incense, a perfume, the work of a perfumer, salted, pure, and holy.” (Ex. 30:35). God never changes. His promises and His demands on His people are equally as changeless.

II. Some uses of salt.

Salt preserves. Perhaps this was the primary use in the mind of Christ Jesus when He used

salt as an illustration. Before ice boxes and refrigirators, people used salt to preserve food.

Food manufactures still add salt to their products to preserve it's flavor, shelf-life etc.

Salt prevents further decay. Salt not only prevents corruption, it also controls corruption that already exists. It is applied to fresh meat to prevent decay.

When it is applied to living flesh, it creates an environment unfavorable to disease, thus allowing natural healing powers to work.

The Christian does not seek to legislate morals, but he or she should support legislation that creates the moral environment for reform.

III. Some observations about salt.

Salt is useless unless it is scattered. In fact, it is distasteful any other way. If left in the saltshaker, it may draw moisture and harden. It is best when spread on watermelon, tomatoes, steak, or corn on the cob.

Henry Ward Beecher said, “If you want your neighbor to see what the Christ spirit will do for him, let him see what it has done for you.” This is shared Christianity.

A little salt goes a long way. The casual witness of life and word has often reaped eternal dividends. It is noteworthy that our Lord often spoke of leaven to indicate the small beginnings of some things that grew into powerful forces. Is it any wonder that a pinch of salt is often sprinkled on dough to aid in the rising process?

Salt never calls attention to itself except when it is in the wrong place. When sprinkled on food, it brings out the natural flavor; one is hardly aware of its presence. But let the ice cream salt seep into the ice cream, and salt is out of place! Let the Christian compromise with the world’s ways and find himself or herself in the wrong places doing the wrong things, and they, too, are out of place.

Salt is composed of two poisons. Its technical name is sodium chloride. Sodium and chloride are poisonous when taken separately. But God joins these two poisons to make salt, a condiment on every table. The Christian is poisoned by sin. In Christ, his or her body becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit. God’s transforming work makes the Christian’s witness a necessity for the world. In Christ, the image of God that was marred by man’s fall is restored by the Holy Spirit.

Salt is composed of many different sizes of grains. When viewed through a microscope, salt grains are different sizes and shapes. Christians are this way too. Some are more capable than others. Some are better prepared than others. But all Christians of all ages and of all stations in life make up the salt of the earth.

Conclusion

“Did they laugh at you for being a Christian?” a friend asked a young man attending a secular college.

“No, they never did know that I am a Christian,” was the reply.

Is it any wonder that the world wonders about some Christians?

“I would be a Christian if I could see one,” said a great leader of another country.

Another echoed, “I would be a Christian if it were not for Christians.” Christians — ​for the sake of souls — ​be what you are: the salt of the earth!