What Does it Mean to be Salt of the Earth?

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.” - Matthew 5:13

Jesus told His disciples to be salt of the earth. They were to be like salt to the earth meaning they were to be like salt in everyday life. Salt is used to season food and prevent meat from rotting, and it creates thirst and brings out flavor. Therefore, as Christ followers, we are to be salt for society that serves as a preservative which makes others long for righteousness. Being like salt also means that God expects us to exert a healthful, purifying influence on others.

If salt loses its flavor, how can it be restored? Back in the time of the Bible, salt could lose its flavor unlike modern table salt today because it was often mixed with various forms of impurities. Salt without saltiness is valueless. The same can be said about Christians who do not carry out their duties as true disciples of Christ. If we do not, then we can become ineffective and barren and fail to achieve the purpose for which God has saved and called us for.

When we do not fully fill out God’s plans then we are like useless salt that has to be thrown out. This means people will trample underfoot our testimony because we would be like a builder who began to build but was not able to finish. As a result, people will stop taking what we do seriously. What good are we then?

Prayer of the day:

Dear heavenly Father,

Help us to be salt of the earth in a dark world. With Your help we can be used as salt to show others Your goodness. Thank you for allowing us to be Your child and letting us add flavor to a lost world. We do not want to lose our focus on the real reason You picked us to show others how to live a righteous life. Help us to be effective in our life so others will want it to. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!