Have you ever used the phrase “salt of the earth”? Maybe you’ve been referred to that way yourself. It’s meant to be an honor. But why? Today salt is cheap and readily available. In ancient times, though, it was a valuable commodity. Although salt is the sixth most abundant element on earth, retrieving it in a pure form was difficult. Pure salt was so precious it was sometimes used to pay wages. That’s where the expression about good workers being worth their salt originated.
Knowing the value of salt in biblical times helps us understand Jesus’ words to His followers in Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth.” Both individually and corporately as the church, believers are like salt in this world. We’re not part of the world system any longer; we’ve become distinct from it (John 17:15-16). But just as salt affects whatever it touches, so should we.
That’s why we weren’t taken out of the world at the moment of salvation: We remain here to carry on Christ’s work. Before ascending to His Father, Jesus gave us our assignment; “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15). This is what it means to be the salt of the earth. Our lives are meant to make an impact for Christ, because we’re the only ones who can share the gospel that saves souls. Our presence should have the same effect on the world as salt does on its environment.
