SALT OF THE EARTH
By George W. Sinquefield
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By George W. Sinquefield
Matt. 5:1 through Matt. 5:13 (KJV)
1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
13 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.
Jesus said to His followers, "Ye are the salt of the earth." He did not say that His followers should be the salt of the earth or might be or could be or that He would like for them to be. He said, "You are the salt of the earth." When He said that He was bestowing upon them the highest honor and demanding from them the greatest responsibility.
I. The Importance Of Salt
From the beginning of human history man has placed a high value on salt. In ancient Palestine salt was as valuable as gold and was held in the highest regard by all. A great Frenchman said salt was one of those "things that are very necessary." A bag of salt among the barbarous tribes was worth more than a man. To the Greeks salt was divine. The Romans considered it very important and said, "There is nothing more useful than sun and salt." Homer calls it divine and Plato speaks of it as a "substance dear to the gods." Jesus placed a high value upon His followers when He referred to them as "the salt of the earth." The world cannot get along without the influence of God's people. They are the custodians of moral health, the natural enemies of moral disease.
Bill Graham said if the church, the Christian people were taken out of the world, the world wouldn't stand a year. Jesus was saying that as salt we are o do something to someone else.
II. Salt Acts As A Preservative.
Alexander McLaren says that Jesus said literally, "Ye, a handful are the people who are to keep the world from rotting and to bring it to all its best light."
Notice the progression in Matthew, chapter 5 from the "poor in spirit" to those who are "persecuted for righteousness sake." Jesus said, "Blessed" or "Happy" are those who:
When one realizes his poverty of spirit he realizes his need for salvation. Then he becomes a Christian by faith in Jesus. He begins to grow up the spiritual ladder until his life is such that it causes the world to persecute him. Then it is that Jesus said he is the "salt of the earth." It is the mature Christian, the Christ-like Christian that Jesus referred to. His life is a standing condemnation against the world and the world will fight back. Jesus this clear:
John 15:20 (KJV)
Other scriptures proclaim the same truth.
2 Tim. 3:12 (KJV)
How is this Christ-like Christian to act when he is persecuted? We find the answer in these scripture verses.
Matt. 5:44 (KJV)
Rom. 12:14 (KJV)
Luke 6:22 through Luke 6:23 (KJV)
This mature Christian prays for those who persecute him. He blesses then and he rejoices that he is granted the priveledge to suffer for Jesus. He is the salt that preserves, that flavors, that causes others to thirst for what he has.
When I was a student in the seminary in New Orleans, we lived in a government apartment. Many of the students lived there because the rent was cheap. They were scattered throughout the complex. The president of the seminary wrote a letter and requested that all students be permitted to live in one area. They would not do so because their influence helped to keep down trouble and there was a lot of that going on.
What about the moral and spiritual condition of this world? Charles Dickens in his "Tale of Two Cities" said, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom , it was the age of foolishness, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness." That darkness has become even deeper. Black clouds threaten on every horizon.
One has said, "Ours is the mightest world of all time but also the meanest, the most brilliant but also the most bloody. The richest but also the poorest, the most powerful but also the most painful. The cleverest, but also the cruelest, the most religious, but also the most ruthless.
We are reminded of the words of David Lloyd George, during World War I, "The world is becoming like a lunatic asylum run by lunatics. The London Times observed, "A fever of militarism bordering on madness is sweeping over the world."
Dr William E. Hull says, "The beatniks have taught us to call the world crazy and well we might for the word crazy comes from a French word which means broken or shattered. Like Humpty Dumpty this world has had a great fall and it now looks as if all the kings horses and all the kings men can't put the broken world together again."
Former president Herbert Hoover speaks of things that made America great. "There are some old things that made this country. There is the old virtue of religious faith, of integrity and the whole truth. There are the old virtues of economy in government. These old ideas are very inexpensive, but some of the old things are slipping badly in American life and if they slip too far the lights will go out in America."
A young mother was about to purchase a rather complicated toy for her child. The salesman explained that it was an educational toy; he said that the plaything would help the child adjust himself to the world because any way he put it together, it would be wrong. That is a rather pessimistic view of our world, but it is and acute reminder of our plight.
III. Salt Gives Flavor
"Salt is good." (Luke 14:34) It flavors what otherwise would be tasteless and very unpleasant.
Clarence W. Cranford puts it like this: In his vivid way of illustrating his truths, Jesus once likened his followers to salt. (Matthew 5:13) This was a great compliment, for without salt, most foods are insipid. But, as has often been pointed out, before salt can add flavor to food, two things must happen It must be gathered. Then it must be scattered.
First, it must be gathered from salt mines. It must be purified and put into salt shakers before it can be brought to the kitchen or table. Then it must be scattered on the food. Salt that remains in the salt shaker never improved the favor of any food.
People needed to be drawn from their preoccupation with the world. They must be purified by God's cleansing Spirit. Then they must be sent back into the world again to impart a new flavor to life. They must have a faith that can heal the wounds of the world just as the Samaritan had oil and wine with which to cleanse and soothe the wounds of the beaten man. (Luke 10:34)
A king asked his 3 daughters how much they loved him. Two of them replied that they loved him better than all the silver and gold in the world. The youngest one said she loved him better than salt. The king was not pleased with her answer but the cook overhearing the remark put no salt in anything for breakfast the next morning. It was so insipid that the king could not enjoy it. He then saw the force of his daughter's remark. She loved him so well that nothing was good without him.
The words of someone else gives us something to think about. "What would happen if we let ourselves go? If we let our faith out of the shaker? If we stopped attacking the motives and methods of everybody else in the world, and added what it is we can add -- zest, confidence, purposefullness, love, compassion? What would happen if we tried giving ourselves away? Suppose we were to make a determined effort to understand someone with whom we disagree, to try putting ourselves in his frame of reference, see what the view is from there? What if we tried a daring application of love in a situation that has gone sour. What if we took personal inventory this minute, singled out someone within our daily orbit we do not really care about, deliberately decided to care? What if we said, "How can I, by what I do today, improve the flavor of life in my home, my church, my community, my country?
IV. Salt Does Its Work Never Expecting Any Credit Or Praise.
I often think of a secret that Lillian Dickson, long-time missionary to Formosa, has lived by: "You can do anything in this world that you want to do and that needs doing, if you don't care who gets the credit for it." That is the way salt works. I've never heard anybody say, upon forking in a mouthful of mashed potatoes, "My, but this salt tastes good!" Yet, that's the kind of comment we who are supposed to be the salt of the earth seem to be doing our best to elicit about ourselves.
Matt. 5:16 (KJV)
We're to let our light shine that our Heavenly Father will be glorified and not us. The Lord's work is often hindered by people who want credit for all they do. They crave to be in the lime light and have people brag about what a good Christian worker they are. The know nothing about being humble.
Matt. 16:24 through Matt. 16:25 (KJV)
To take up the cross and follow Jesus is to die to self and selfishness. Many have never yet learned to do that like Diotrephes.
3 John 1:9 through 3 John 1:10 (KJV)
The following came from a devotional booklet: One day while driving down a country road, a woman saw a sign QUILTS FOR SALE by a small, wooden house. When she knocked on the door, she was greeted by a little old woman in a faded gingham dress. "Hello, my name is Ruth. I'm here to see you quilts." The woman smiled and said, "You and I have Bible names. My name is Martha."
Martha led Ruth to a large cupboard where her eyes were greeted by the most beautiful quilts of every color and pattern imaginable. And pinned on each one was a blue ribbon. Ruth said that she too made quilts, but she had never been able to win a blue ribbon. Martha replied, "My child, maybe your quilts don't have heart. Do you only want the blue ribbon? Every one of mine was made with someone special in mind."
We live in a day of shallow superlatives. Entertainers and athletes perform feats hailed "the greatest" by the world. But truly great human endeavors are those done for Jesus with some needy person in mind. And they bear the mark of eternal excellence. Such was the labor of Dorcas of Joppa. Her loving, charitable heart was seen in the clothes she had made for the poor (Acts 9:39).
The good we do is remembered best when we forget ourselves.
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. 10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
V. Salt Makes Its Presence Known - (Also makes its absence known)
By its presence all know it because it has an eloquent tongue that speaks for itself. When it is absent, everyone knows it because it speaks for itself.
I read a story the other day, written by a preacher friend, of an experience he had one time in a very fashionable home where he was invited for a meal. He said that when the dessert came, it was homemade ice cream. As he sat there, he could hardly wait to get his dish and get his spoon in it and start eating. They waited for everybody to be served, then the hostess picked up her's, took a bite first, put her spoon down and said, "Don't eat that, don't touch it, it's filled with salt. There has been a mistake made." He said he sat there wondering why she did not say, "Well now this would be embarrassing if I mentioned it. I will just keep quiet, my friends need a little salt anyway, and I won't say a thing about the ice cream being filled with salt." Why? Simply because salt will make itself known when it is present or when it is absent.
Dr. Ralph Neighbors said a girl came to him for advice. She said, "I am the only Christian in my home and my parents, brothers, and sisters ridicule me and mock me. They delight in cursing me. I cannot endure it any longer. I am leaving home." Dr. Neighbors replied, "Are any of your people saved?" She answered, "No, I am the only Christian in my family." Dr. Neighbors than ask, "If you were to leave home your family would be without a witness wouldn't they?" The girl went back home, endured the persecution until one by one she won her family to Christ.
It is before men that God's people are to shine. We must mix and mingle with the world but never become worldly. A miller with flour on his clothes went to the post office. He left his mark on everyone he came in contact with. As God's people go about, they need to leave their mark on people. They need to make a spiritual donation to the life of others. Philosopher William James said, "The value of one's life is computed not by its duration but by its donation."
Actually, what is salt good for, except to be expended, used up, on something other than itself? Salt, no matter how potent its savor, is no good by itself. You can't eat it. And who wants salt on salt? But it's the rare person -- and the rare Christian -- who appears to be willing to spend himself to enhance the flavor of something or somebody else.
VI. Salt Bites -- Irritates
The life and influence of a godly person is so contradictory to the life of a worldly person. It is a judgment against his way of life and it imitates him. He cannot live in peace when constantly being reminded of what he ought to be. The only thing for him to do is to fight back -- to try to destroy that influence.
1 John 3:13 (KJV)
2 Tim. 3:12 (KJV)
If we as Christians are not being persecuted we might need to examine our lives. If there is no bite, no irritation in the way we live something is wrong. The Bible warns us to, "Beware when all men speak well of you." You can't be the salt of the earth without smarting (irritating) someone. A preacher friend of mine, brought the message one Sunday night in the church where I was pastor. After the service he said to me, "I hope I didn't make anyone mad." I said to him, "You can't preach the Word without making someone mad."
Martin Luther asked, "Of what good is salt unless it has a bite?" One of the properties of salt is its sting. Salt cannot heal unless it hurts. There must be an uncompromising quality about the purity of our lives if we are to help humanity. Many will resent us, but some will be led to Christ for healing.
Dr. R. G. Lee said, "If at my funeral someone says I never had an enemy I'll kick the lid of that casket and shout. You're a liar. I've made many enemies."
Matt. 5:44 (KJV)
We can't love our enemies if we don't have any. Have you heard someone say, "I don't have an enemy in the world." One who doesn't have an enemy is one who has not lived as godly as he should have. He is one who has compromised with the evil ways of Satan and the world. Jesus had many enemies and the more like Jesus we become the more enemies we're going to have.
VII. Salt Creates A Thirst.
Salt makes us desire water and God's people should cause the world to thirst for Jesus, the living Water of Life.
The woman of Samaria came to the well to get water to satisfy her physical thirst. Jesus said to her, "Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst." (John 4)
We've heard people say when referring to a certain person, "I'd give anything if I could be like her (or him). When Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven." He was saying that the Christian's life should cause others to thirst for Him. I recall a fine humble, hard working man who attended a First Baptist Church. For some time I observed his manner of life and I had often said I'd like, in so many ways, to be like him. To me he was the ideal Christian. One Sunday morning he walked into church and greeted me with a warm handshake. Then he looked me in the eye and something that really shocked me and at the same time, meant a lot to me. He said, "I wish I were the man I think you are." I remember that often and it motivates me to try harder to measure up to his expectation and to be the kind of person I can be with the Lord's help. God help us to so live that others will thirst for our Savior -- the Water of Life.
VIII. Good For Nothing
Salt that has lost it's strength, its savour is good for nothing. It actually destroys the fertility of the soil. It is gathered up and cast into the street, good for nothing, no place around the house, yard, or garden where it can be tolerated. "Good for nothing" speaks of a compromising Christian whose life has no bite, no sting.
I learned an interesting thing not long ago about salt. I read a book by the Danish explorer, Peter Freuchen, who spent more than half a century living among the Eskimos. He said that when sea water freezes it loses its saltiness. Eskimos take the frozen sea water, melt it, and use it for drinking.. Icebergs are fresh water. Does this suggest anything to you? Is it not true that cold hearted Christians lose their saltiness? Is it not true that iceberg churches have no healing power? The church has been called "the company of the concerned." There is reason, however, to question the intensity of our concern when our feeble efforts at evangelism are studied.
Then in the name of God what use, what place does such a church have on the face of the earth? Such a church has falsified the first law of its existence. Salt which is no good is to be discarded, but people differ from salt in this respect -- they can come back to the source of all purity and be resalted again. "Ye are the salt of the earth."
I think of a man who was in a cold and backslidden condition. I visited him many times and encouraged him to come back to the Lord and live for Him and serve Him. Finally he did and he really was sincere. For years now he has faithfully served his Lord and by his life he has been and is "salt of the earth."
Maybe you need to do the same. Do it today because this world needs "salt" to keep it from further decay. God help you to do so.
13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitfully use you, and persecute you;
