“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 underfoot.”
Matthew 5:13 (NIV Bible)
This verse has been used by most every teacher of the Bible for one message or another. I wasn’t initially planning to do a second Blog-Cast this week but this verse came to me and I realized it was a great follow up to the one from Tuesday in memory of Charlie Kirk because he fulfilled this verse.
As “Context is King” explained last week, knowing the culture of the time scripture was written and the type of text it grants understanding of the nuances in scripture. And that’s what today is about. In the 1st Century salt is known to have been used for two primary purposes. It was used as a spice for food to provide flavor but it also has been used for the preservation of meat and other food. In our current day we use it to create saline which is a mixture of salt and water in various proportions and has been used as a medical rinse for a number of years.
Being the salt of the earth means we are meant to perform the spiritual duty of salt in the world. Preserving what is morally upright and standing in the way of sin’s corruption by speaking out against it. Pointing people in the way of righteousness that is in accordance to God’s revelations about right and wrong. Keeping what can do good from going bad as salt prevents good food for our nourishment from spoiling and rotting. Governments and places of authority in a society exist with God’s blessing to lead large groups of people in ways that please God. This is what Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans.
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.”
Romans 13:1-5 (NIV Bible)
But that brings up the question of how do we make the change in society so that it bears the flavor of God and is preserved by submission to Him?
We do so through teaching those who will listen and praying for those in positions over us. Petitioning God on their behalf that they might personally submit themselves to God and receive from Him the promised Holy Spirit of God into their lives. For it is He who changes the people. In the days of Rome becoming a leader in the governmental body wasn’t as easy as in many modern Western Governments of today. Today, the primary qualifications are being a citizen of that country and meeting a certain age range, since it was believed at the founding of that nation’s government that they’d have enough life skills to do the job at that point, and succeeding in the democratic process of campaigning to get the proper amount of votes. From what I was able to find, membership in the senate required a military career, an age requirement, good skills in administration, and finally the favor of someone else in an authoritative position that could nominate you for a position. And only if you were lucky or good enough could you gain an entry point to begin working your way up the ladder.
This difference in the historical and modern society means there was far more emphasis on the need to communicate effectively with anyone a follower of Christ met. Today we can easily choose someone else in the election or present ourselves as an option in opposition to the others. But one thing that is consistent is our need to properly communicate with others and plant the seeds with trust that God will make it grow. When Paul was writing a letter to the church that gathered together in the city of Corinth he wrote this addressing how the people were divided based on who had first taught them the words of God.
“What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.”
1st Corinthians 3:5-9 (NIV Bible)
I added the highlight on my own in the segment above because that is what I want to remind everyone who reads and listens to this about. We do nothing but plant the seeds of God’s word and He alone makes it grow into a person fully devoted to Him. God will achieve His purpose for speaking the words He chose to speak. If we want our society to be led by those in positions of influence in the ways of righteousness we have to pray for a few specific groups of people.
Firstly, we must pray that we ourselves will live holy lives. I do not mean lives that appear holy in our actions while harboring sins in our heart that never get spoken but truly holy lives. Fearful of God for He is mighty and a dreadful thing to behold as we realize his sheer purity and how stained we are by comparison. And by this we have let ourselves be cleansed by the blood of Jesus and after being cleansed we take the charge of “sin no more” truly for what it is. Sin is not some cultural or societal misbehavior but rather treason against the supreme authority of Y-H-W-H. It is saying that we can be our own gods and rulers outside of His appointments. A punishment that deserves death. The words spoken by God to Moses and given to the nation of Israel in Exodus 20 showcase a basic moral standard. A standard that almost all people will fail to follow because Jesus raises the bar on them to include thought. Should you continue reading in Matthew chapter 5 you will see Jesus say that to hate a person in your heart is the same as murder and to look on a woman with lust in your heart and a desire for her is the same as adultery. The commandment in Exodus against covetousness reveals that theft also begins in the heart. Until we are so concerned with pleasing God that we take Him and His commands seriously so that we apply them and give them authority in our lives above all things our own life of ministry to those around us will be liable to compromise. Our greatest need is humility to combat the spirit of pride which prevents us from admitting that we are sinners in desperate requirement of forgiveness and strength to remain holy.
Secondly, we must pray for those in positions of influence and power. This is obvious but is important to be said. Our prayer must be that just as we are submitting ourselves to the Lord God of Heaven for the sake of being holy and pleasing in His sight that these people with much higher callings and places to do the same thing. Petitioning for them to be granted God fearing counsel that is willing to humbly admit when there are things they don’t yet know or fully understand. Requesting that these individuals are likewise humble and leading others in ways that are in keeping with the Lord’s ways.
Thirdly, we must not forget those who are being influenced and led by us or people in places of further reach and impact that our own places of one-on-one ministry to those we interact with. Asking that we be ready at all times to do good and for the hearts who are on the receiving end to be prepared by those who come before us and continually nourished by those who come after.
Prayer is to be what grants us communion with God and fellowship through Holy Spirit who is given to all who are covered by the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. All who have accepted and chosen to trust that He was raised from the dead and ascended into Heaven as the proof that the debt of sin has been paid receive Holy Spirit in their lives. But only when you seek Him out will He begin to be active. He’ll grow in influence over you beyond just being that guidance of conscience telling you right from wrong. He’ll show His personhood and ability to speak when pursuit of Him for the sake of relationship is done. I’ve been in pursuit of that depth since I was in pre-school thanks to Max Lucado’s “Hermie and Friends” where God is shown as involved and willing to talk to His children who listen for Him.
If there is anything that you find Him stirring your heart about, ask Him for guidance. Diligently come before Him expressing unashamedly what is weighing you down and wait for His response. Daniel was in a time of mourning and seeking God for 21 days before the man Gabriel arrived with news, the answers from God, for his heart’s burden.
To be effective spiritual salt we must draw near to God and trust He’ll respond by coming near to us and pursue a life of obedience to Him in every way possible for us.
Until next time,
Take courage for Jesus has overcome the world!