Salt is one of the most important chemical compounds ever discovered.
Science has long known its value. Sodium chloride, the chemical name for salt, is essential to cellular function. It’s involved in muscle contractions (including our heartbeats) and in our nerve impulses. Salt helps in the digestion of proteins and regulates the exchange of water between our cells and the fluids that surround them. Lack of salt may lead to dehydration, convulsions, paralysis, and death.
In ancient times salt was at least as valuable as gold, and in some cases worth more. The 6th century AD Roman Senator Cassiodorus said, “Some seek not gold, but there lives not a man who does not need salt.” Historically, salt has been the most taxed commodity in human history, with examples dating as far back as 2200 BC. It was used to preserve food as well as to give it flavor. Our word “salary” traces all the way back to the Latin word “salarium,” which was an allowance, stipend, or pension. Originally this word referred to a Roman soldier’s allowance or stipend for the purchase of salt.
During the time of Abraham (early 2nd millennium BC), there are references to the Salt Sea (a.k.a. the Dead Sea, cf. Genesis 14.3). Lot’s wife famously became a pillar of salt (Genesis 19.26). Israelites were required to include salt in their offerings (Leviticus 2.13). Some covenants were sealed with salt (2 Chronicles 13.5).
And, in Haitian culture, salt is said to cure Zombies. If that isn’t useful, I don’t know what is.
In view of its historic importance, it shouldn’t surprise us when Jesus declared that his disciples were “the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5.13). He was saying that they were as necessary to the spiritual preservation of the world as salt is necessary to the preservation of human life. Take away salt, and the world becomes flat and putrid. Take away disciples, and the world becomes hopelessly corrupt.
It’s no secret that Christians are a minority in this world, always have been and always will be. But despite our lowly presence, we can impact this world in the most important of ways. Prior to calling his disciples the salt of the earth, Jesus also described them as spiritually impoverished, as mourners, as gentle, as spiritually hungry, as merciful and pure, and as peacemakers (Matthew 5.3-9). These character traits are what cause us to be the salt of the earth. The Lord Jesus transforms us into such people by his divine power.
When you’re discouraged by what seems to be the ubiquity of evil around you, take heart. You’re the salt of the earth, by Jesus’ design. That means you have power and influence that this world cannot live without.