Salt and Light
Mat 5:13 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.
Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Mat 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Mat 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth:
In the ancient world, salt was very important, by the Greeks it was almost looked on as something divine.
Salt was so valuable that the Roman army used to pay the soldiers in salt.
This is where the saying was born, “He is not worth his salt”, meaning he was not good enough to be paid.
The idea behind this statement by Christ is linked with the fact that salt is a seasoning agent and also a cleansing agent.
For salt to have an effect on food, it needs to be mixed in with the food, this has the effect of bringing out the flavour.
In other words it has the ability to bring out the best.
For Christians to be as effective as salt in the world, we need to mix with the world. This does not mean that Christians become like the world but unless they mingle there is no effect.
Many Christians fear the world, thinking that they will be tainted by the world.
We should first and foremost remember the words of Jesus.
“Ye are in the world but not of it” and we do not need to fear the world because Jesus also said, “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world”.
However, being in the world brings with it, problems, for the world does not necessarily like what the Christian has to say.
The world is at enmity with Christ and so it is at enmity with the Gospel.
It is not always easy to stand up for the truth of the Gospel, because very often what the Bible teaches does not sit well with people.
If one talks about sin for instance, it is often seen as judgemental. There are many people that will admit to telling lies, or stealing something, or taking Gods name in vain, having lustful thoughts and yet for some reason, do not think they are sinners.
Anything that appears to be judging is often met with anger or argument. This is how the Beatitudes ended in vv10 -12 of chapter 5, with 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
However, we cannot run away and hide from the world. Our commission is to go into the world and preach the Gospel. We are soldiers of the cross and the world is a battle field.
We fight the good fight behind enemy lines.
It is essential that Christians involve themselves in the world. It is good that there are Christian influences in the workplace, around the board table, working for charities and community groups and teaching in our schools.
This can bring a Christ perspective on decisions and practices.
Salt is also a preservative. Before there were fridges and freezers, food was preserved by rubbing salt into it. If this was not done the food would go rotten.
We don’t know what the world would be like without the work of the Holy Spirit in Christian influence.
We do know that the world is under the influence of Satan but if the Holy Spirit and Christian witness was removed, we don’t know how bad it would be.
So, it is very important that Christians recognise that there is a duty to obey the commission of Jesus, no matter how uncomfortable it may be. We need to keep in our minds on the fact that the way that God has ordained the saving of souls is through the foolishness of preaching.
Romans 10:17 Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
The medical world warns against too much salt, they say it has an effect on the heart. Pray God that we the salt of the earth may have an effect on the hearts of men and women in a positive way.
Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world.
The amazing thing about light, is that it cannot be dispelled by the dark.
Even the smallest light can dispel the darkness.
In the world we are meeting people who never step into a church, so we are taking the church to them.
Someone once said that the godly man is the ungodly mans Bible.
We are the witnesses to the saving power of Jesus Christ and unless we testify of it, how will they hear.
Again this brings with it problems.
If you are a shining light in your community or your workplace, people can get annoyed and irritated with you. The reason is, your goodness highlights their failings. The nearer they are to the light the more their failings are challenged.
If one is preaching righteousness, it tends to bring people under condemnation and they don’t like it.
One thing that happens is, they look for your faults and very quickly highlight them to others.
This is why Christians should be aware of their actions and attitudes. We do not want to bring reproach on the name of Christ.
The verse says Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
The city cannot be hid. Either it will be seen in a good light or a bad light.
Therefore, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven”.
Fear is the enemy of the Gospel. Fear can make a Christian hide their light under a bushel, where the opposite is what is needed.
Mat 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Christians must depend on the power of the Holy Spirit.
You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.
Being filled with the Spirit is essential for witness. The Apostle Paul says “Be being filled”.
Keep short accounts with God, constantly breathing out the impurities and breathing in the love and forgiveness of God and be filled with the Spirit.
Remember, prayer and evangelism go hand in hand.
Pray that God will prepare the soil for reception of the seed of the Gospel.
One plants, one waters and God gives the increase.
1 Cor 3:6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
