Salt and Light

A Peanuts cartoon showed Peppermint Patty talking to Charlie Brown in which she said, “Guess what, Chuck? The first day of school, and I got sent to the principal’s office. It was your fault, Chuck.” Charlie Brown responds, “My fault? How could it be my fault? Why do you say everything is my fault?” To which Peppermint Patty says, “You’re my friend, aren't you, Chuck? You should have been a better influence on me.”

While Peppermint Patty was trying to pass the buck, she was also speaking some truth.
We should be a good influence on those around us. 

I've been reading in Matthew lately and in chapters 5-7 we read what is commonly referred to as "The Sermon on the Mount". 

The first 12 verses of Matthew 5 are known as the Beatitudes and have to do with our Attitude toward sin, ourselves, God, others, and the World. 

If the Beatitudes describe the essential character of the Christ follower, then the metaphors of salt and light indicate our outward influence. Jesus links our inner attitude with outward action.


Matthew 5:13-16 says, "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

I want you to notice that Jesus doesn't say that you are like salt, or even that you will be light some time in the future. He says, “You are the salt of the earth…you are the light of the world.” 

So let's look at some interesting things about Salt and Light.

1. Salt gives taste

Salt by itself doesn’t taste very good but when it’s applied to food it unleashes the flavor. As Christians we are God’s seasoning in the world. Just as salt adds zest and fires up the taste buds, so too we should be making life more “tasty” for others. Christians should be adding spice to a spiritually bland world. 

2. Salt is a preservative

Salt is a preservative that holds back decay. Friends, we are a preservative in our culture. That’s why we must live counter-cultural lives that are distinctively Christian. Christ-followers are to be a preserving influence.

3. Salt creates thirst

When we’re interacting with those who don’t know Christ, God uses us to make people thirsty for Jesus. That’s what’s behind Colossians 4:6 - Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Salt is a seasoning, it’s a preservative, and it makes people thirsty. In all three cases, salt must be brought into contact with its object in order for its power to be released. Salt that just sits in the shaker does no good for anyone. 

4. Light dispels darkness

When you walk into a dark room and turn on the light, what happens? The darkness disappears. We are to be light in a dark world.

5. Light gives guidance

Jesus said in John 8:12 - "...I am the Light of the world..."

Jesus has passed the torch to his children. Just as His manner of life and speech lighted the way out of darkness into a relationship with the Father, so we, by the way we live and the things we say, are to guide people to the light of the world.

Is the light of Christ shining through you? Are you allowing His light to be made visible in your life? Don’t hide the light under a basket. Take it out and hold it high.