Salt of the World

In His teaching, the Lord Jesus often used everyday objects as props to reveal or teach a truth. In this verse, Jesus uses salt as His illustration. Certainly, He did not choose this object by mistake. Why salt? Salt is a substance with many functions. Among the functions of salt are maintaining fluid balance in the body, aiding nutrient absorption, preserving food, enhancing natural aroma and flavor, removing unpleasant odors, cleaning stains, and serving as a raw material for the chemical industry. Salt is even used to melt accumulated snow, and so on. Thus, there is no doubt that salt has many uses.

The people of Venice used the Mediterranean Sea to obtain salt from their salt pans. The Jews also had abundant supplies of salt. Much salt is found along the shores of the Dead Sea. In addition, salt is obtained from a place called the Salt Hill, a plateau of about 4,000 hectares at the southwest corner of the Dead Sea, a region known as the place where Lot’s wife once became a pillar of salt. This kind of salt forms from coral or fossils. Because of impurities and chemical changes, this salt layer is less flavorful and can become bland. That is why salt can lose its saltiness.

Because this substance was important, a salt tax was imposed during the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes of Syria. The proceeds from that tax were given to the Roman government. Salt in Israel at that time differed from the salt in Indonesia today. In Palestine, due to certain chemical processes, salt can lose its saltiness and its essential elements. As a result, salt can become bland and completely useless. Such salt becomes waste, even trampled underfoot, as Jesus said. So essentially, salt is very important and has many functions. Salt is one of the things that are inseparable from human life.

When Jesus said that believers are the salt of the world—referring to the world at large, not just one region—He meant that believers must live a high-quality life, just as salt has many functions and high value; thus, the life of a believer must be valuable. “High” here refers to human needs: something that is greatly needed. Therefore, a child of God is obliged to have a good quality of life by developing himself in various aspects, according to the abilities, gifts, or talents God has given. In this way, the distinctive abilities each individual possesses can emerge.

But this is only a beginning or a basic step. Because anyone can also do these things, in other words, non-Christians can also develop themselves by cultivating the common potentials that every person has. If even common potential is not developed, how could someone develop the special potential that believers possess—what nonbelievers do not have? Therefore, believers must not be lazy. Laziness is a disaster because it is an irresponsible attitude. Young people should realize that developing all their potential is the first step toward great ministry. Therefore, it must be done earnestly for the Lord.

This is not intended to belittle anyone or to insult, but if a person is foolish, sickly, poor, and has no ability at all, then he is useless. Not only to God, but even to the world around him, he may be considered insignificant. For example, as a pastor, if we are not of quality, do not have broad insight, and are not able to rightly handle the Word of God, who will invite us to preach? Who will entrust the ministry to us? The same applies in daily life. Wherever we work and wherever we are in the community, if we have no potential—even common potential—we will not be of use.