Salty Salt

“You are the salt of the earth.  But if salt loses its flavor, how can it be made salty again?

It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people.”

(Matthew 5:13)

Throughout my lifetime, I’ve been involved in athletics.  I was raised in a coaching environment.  My father was a coach and I’ve followed in his footsteps!  In athletics, certain phrases are commonly thrown around.  Some examples of this are:  “Wow – he’s salty!” and “that sure was a salty play!” etc.  The term “salty” is used all of the time in sport.  Lately, I’ve thought a lot about what it means to be salty and my questions have led me to research it biblically.  I began with the verse above and have tried to see how it applies to us as Christians.

We, as Christians, are called the salt of the earth because our lives enhance and give meaning to this existence we call life.  Before salvation, we were like grains of sand, too numerous to count.  But after receiving Christ, we are transformed – no longer like tiny debris of rock having little or no difference from another lost piece of sand, to something distinctive in taste, texture, and aroma.

It may be an odd analogy, but Jesus compared believers to salt for a reason.  Salt is a dietary mineral, used for flavoring and preservation – needed by all known living creatures.  If abused, it can be harmful.  However, it is also detrimental to have no salt intake because it regulates the water content in our bodies.  Jesus used salt to describe how Christians are needed to bring balance and hope to an otherwise dying world.

The question He asked however is, “What good is salt if it has lost its flavor?”  In other words, if a Christian has lost his or her gusto and fervor, then what’s the difference between the old grain of sand they once were and the so-called salt they are now?  The answer:  very little.

Because of recent circumstances in my life, I pondered this scripture differently than I have before.  Trials can cause us to become weary if we’re not careful.  And just like salt can become diluted in water, Christians can become diluted (or altered) by their experiences.  For example, what we believed before a traumatic event is sometimes not the same as afterwards.  Why is that?  There could be many reasons, but the most common is depression, fatigue, self-doubt, and ultimately reservations about what we believed in to begin with.  And we have to clearly understand there is an enemy at work in these cases.  If we are the salt of the earth and it’s possible to lose our flavoring, then it’s no secret the Devil will do his best to make sure our effectiveness (our flavoring) isn’t what it used to be.  And if he had his way in every case, we’d have no flavoring left at all – returning to transparent grains of sand with no threat to him or his kingdom.

Jesus said, “Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it?  Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another” (Mark 9:50).

Consider this:  the sea is full of salt but it is only extracted through the process of boiling (removing the water to retain the salt).  I don’t like the idea of going through fiery trials, but if that’s what it takes to recapture the “salt” in my life, then maybe I’m okay with that.  What I’ve learned is that God is not the destroyer in this life.  He said the thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10).  God is the “Restorer” of broken lives and broken hearts.

The boiling process will either prove or disprove the amount of salt contained in a substance.  In the same way, the trials of life will either prove our lives are flavored by God or they will reveal how much we truly lack.  Either way, if handled correctly, the end result can be beneficial.  For the one, their revelation of Jesus Christ and His grace and faithfulness will increase.  For the other, a realization of their small faith can push them to a deeper relationship with God because despite their lack, He remains faithful.  The only problem is:  God has left the “salt containers” (you and I) to decide.

“So dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.  Instead, be very glad – for these trials make you partners with Christ (and what He went through), so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing His glory when it is revealed to all the world” 1 Peter 4:12-13

I have learned I can’t always control the trials I face, but I am the keeper of my “salt.”  Will I be bitter or better?  Less seasoned or more flavorful?  Will I disappear into the background or stand out as an overcomer?  Because in the end, what good am I if I’ve lost my flavoring?

Dear Lord, help us to stay salty and maintain our flavor.  Strengthen us in times of trial and help us to remember and know that You are always there.  We love You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Casey Dacus
Graham, TX