I remember sitting at the dinner table years ago and hearing one of my children say that one of their siblings was “salty.” I was puzzled. The tone and setting of the statement were in a negative light. “Salty?” I asked. My wife, Kara, saw my confusion and explained that it meant they are in a bad mood and this was a new term our kids had picked up. I looked at my children and explained to them that Jesus told His disciples in His sermon on the Mount to be salty!!  

My friend, as Christians today we are commanded by God to be salty, and that does not mean that we should be in a bad mood!

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men (Matthew 5:13).

Just as salt can lose its savor, we as Christians can lose our influence. I was in Israel years ago standing right where we believe Jesus delivered this powerful message. Our tour guide was explaining to us that back during Jesus’ day when people wanted to season their food, they took a salt bag and dipped it into the food and would give it time for the salt crystals to dissolve through the bag into their meal (much like a tea bag). The interesting thing, he explained, was that after all the salt crystals dissolved into the food, what was leftover in the bag was white, washed-out earth they call “slag.” They literally would take that slag and throw it outside of their door to be walked on.

How sad it is when we as Christians lose our influence on this world. We can literally become useless to the cause of Christ. How do we guard against losing our savor? How do we stay salty? Salt has a number of functions.

1.  Salt Preservers.

Before we had refrigeration, salt was used to preserve our food. People had salt rooms where meat, covered in salt, was stored. Salt was the ingredient that kept the meat from spoiling. This made salt a very valuable commodity.

Righteousness exalteth a nation: But sin is a reproach to any people (Proverbs 14:34.)

I believe as God looks upon His children today He says to us, “You are so valuable to me.” God desires to use our lives to preserve our nation and our world from complete and utter decay. We must be so very careful not to lose our savor or our influence.

2.  Salt adds flavor.

Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? (Job 6:6)

Have you ever asked someone to pass the salt during a meal? The food was good, but it was just needing a little something extra to boost the flavor? God desires for us to do the same.

Our lives should be a reflection of the Lord! When we live our lives pleasing to Christ, we will add a good taste about the things of God to a world that is bitter and unsavory.

Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man (Colossians 4:6).

3.  Salt makes you thirsty.

We have all heard the old statement, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” We can’t make him drink, but we can give him a salt block to lick and make him thirsty! Our lives should make the lost around us thirsty for what we have.

O taste and see that the Lord is good: Blessed is the man that trusteth in him (Psalm 34:8).

4.  Salt purifies

For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. 50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another (Mark 9:49-50).  

Just as the life of Job teaches us that the fires of life purify us, so salt is also a purifying agent. You can rest assured that you are living for the Lord when God uses your life to help purify the lives of those around you.

As we look around at this world, it is abundantly clear that we have our work cut out for us!! So, today I ask you, are you salty?

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John Evertson

John Evertson, GSBC Campus Pastor

In June 2000, after graduating from Golden State Baptist College, John Evertson answered the call to pastor West Valley Baptist Church in Woodland, California. After 19 years, God moved Pastor and Mrs. Evertson to Santa Clara. Pastor Evertson is instrumental in the church and serves as the Campus Pastor for Golden State Baptist College to help guide the future servants of God. Pastor & Mrs. Evertson have four children — Josiah, Jeremiah, Joy, and Joshua.