From the Pulpit: The positive and negative of salt and light

Matthew 5:13-16 (ESV) 

13  “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. 

14  “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 

15  “Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 

16  “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” 

When we think of salt and light, we tend to think of them as good things, which they can be. But there is another side of both. 

Like the Gospel they can be wonderful news to those being saved but terrible news for those who reject Jesus as their Savior. To the saved it brings eternal life. To the lost it brings eternal damnation. Same message. Different outcomes and responses.

Let’s take a minute and compare the plus and minus of salt and light. 

I am sure you can add to these lists!

Positive:

• Salt – Flavors, preserves, heals, enhances other things

• Light – reveals color, warms, heals, dispels darkness

Negative:

• Salt – can overpower, hurt, kill, corrode

• Light – burn, blind, kill, destroy

Two different elements. Different outcomes. These verses are following Jesus’ reminder that we will be persecuted for His sake. 

Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 that “We are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.” Same message, same elements.

 Two different fragrances to two different people.

Prayer: Father, please help us to be salt and light in our world. Help us when we are persecuted for sharing the Good News. 

Help us remember that You were persecuted before us. You are THE LIGHT of the world and world did not like you. You exposed their darkness. 

Help us stand strong and bring salt and light everyday to this lost and dying world. Amen