Salt of the Earth
by Keith Bellamy
Concerning His followers, Jesus said in Matthew 5:13, "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men." (NASB)
As I was visiting the nursing home one day I was sitting, talking to one of our members. An elderly lady came up to me and said, "You are the salt of the earth." As she said that, she handed me a little salt packet. Quite naturally I was startled by her comment. I questioned her about what she had said. She went on to tell me that she was only 92 years old and if she didn't learn something new about God every day she wasn't growing. Needless to say, I was astonished by this wisdom that I was hearing. This dear lady then said her preacher's column was called “The Salt Block.” Apparently, he had raised some cattle. Then this lady said, "You know what salt does? It makes you thirsty for the Word of God."
I have pondered on this lady's wisdom for a long time and I just had to share it with you.
I remember my great-granddaddy, curing meat with salt and hanging it up in the old smoke house so the meat would cure. I learned that salt preserves. Good salt must be used though. Bad salt is of no use to anyone.
My great-granddaddy had a powerful influence on those of us who knew him. Great-grandmother had influenced my great-granddaddy many years earlier. She influenced everyone with whom she came in contact.
It has taken me years to understand what Jesus was saying. Many years ago some very godly people were the preserving “salt” in our lives of which Jesus spoke.
I have been reading some articles my great-granddad Bellamy was writing way back in yester-year. He mentions our influence and how it has a direct bearing on others.
Jesus was talking about salt, wasn't He? What kind of “salt” are you? What kind of influence are you? Think about it!
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