I recently attended a birthday party where the host had prepared a beautiful salted caramel cake. I watched as she sprinkled the coarse salt onto the sweet caramel topping, and my mouth began to water in anticipation. It is amazing to me how salt can lift the flavor of sweets by providing a contrast that causes our taste buds to explode with flavor. What I did not know at the time was that the host had already salted the cake before we arrived. What I witnessed was her watching in amusement as the salt disappeared into the caramel sauce. She could not see the salt, so she kept adding more. Needless to say, when it came time to eat that beautiful cake, we found the wonderful flavors we had expected were now out of balance. It was too salty to enjoy. This led to a fun discussion about the lessons we can glean from the experience. In searching the Scriptures, we find there are several uses for salt that we can apply to our Christian lives and strive to emulate or avoid.
Flavor
Matthew 5:13 tells us, Ye are the salt of the earth:… God wants us as Christians to enhance the lives of those around us. We should bring out the best in them with balance. Colossians 4:6 tells us how to do this: Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. We should not be overbearing in pushing our beliefs but steadfast as we gently flavor the taste buds of others so that they may see the goodness God has to offer.
Healing
II Kings 2:21 says, And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.
In addition to adding flavor, salt has healing powers. It can be used to reduce inflammation, sanitize wounds, or bring balance to the body. When we provide our salt in the right amounts, we can be part of the healing process by leading the lost to the ultimate Healer.
Ground Covering
The last part of Matthew 5:13 says, …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.
My husband used to drive a salt truck, which was used to coat icy roads after heavy storms. Road salt is close in chemical composition to table salt, but the biggest difference is that road salt contains copious impurities. This particular salt is used to cover the ground to melt the ice and snow, but after that, it is basically useless.
As Christians, if we lose our ability to enhance the lives of those around us, our usefulness may end up being limited to just ground cover. As I am sure others would testify, I want more for my life than just “ground cover.” I want God to use me for much more, and I know He has better plans for me beyond being trodden upon by others.
My challenge to you is to take a look at your salt level. Are you salted or are you just salty? Let us allow God to use us to flavor His world the way He intended.
by Melissa Caperton
