Out of the Shaker

“You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing  but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” Matthew 5:13 (NKJV)

Several years ago, I took a writing course in which one of the essays I wrote was about salt and its  harmful effects on one’s health.  It was later published as a magazine article titled “Don’t Shake It Out.”  The main idea  was to keep the salt in the salt shaker and avoid health problems. My writing teacher had praised my essay but had made a note on my paper saying  that she, like many other people, needed salt in her diet for health reasons. I have since learned that too much salt can be harmful, but too little may be dangerous.

In our focus text, Jesus calls us salt, so there must be a good side to the condiment.  It is of value, even necessary.  I can recall one time when salt was definitely needed.  I had come home from the hospital with my second son and also with a bad case of the flu.  My husband took over the chores, including cooking,  an area in which  he had no skills.  One of the meals he prepared included rice. It was barely edible. It had no salt, but I ate it,  giving thanks although it tasted  memorably bad.

Salt gives flavor to a dish, whether the recipe calls for  a pinch or a  quarter teaspoon. It makes the dish tastier. Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth.” That’s a compliment but also a caution. As a compliment, it lets us know that we are blessed with the ability  to add flavor to the life of the people around us, making their lives  more satisfying. By our thoughtful, pleasanf  words and deeds, we  help to make them enjoy living even in a world that has so much that is unsavory.  The caution, on the other hand,  is that  if we are salt that is not doing what we naturally should, that is, having a positive effect on  those around us as our Lord intends, then we are without flavor,  tasteless, not worth keeping on hand.

Salt is sometimes kept in a shaker,  and that is a good place to help keep moisture from making  the crystals   stick together, especially  in  humid weather, but  salt is of the greatest benefit when it is  out of the shaker, sprinkled  wisely wherever it can do the most good.  Where can you  shake out some salt today?

Always,

Judith
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“The Bible says that Christians are
the salt of the earth and the light
of the world. On the job, in the 
grocery store, even among unsaved
friends and family, God’s people are
there to bring seasoning to the 
unsavory situations.”
Joyce Meyer