Why We Are Called to “Be Salt & Light of the World”
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless,
(The Gospel According to Matthew 5: 13-16a NASB)
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.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand,
and it gives light to all who are in the house.
Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, . . .”
- What is your best skill, your best talent, your gift?
Truly. What are you good at doing?
- Are you using that skill, talent, gift for the Lord?
Are you using that skill—talent—gift for the Lord often and faithfully?
Pause to re-read the verses found in Matthew 5, the ones quoted at the beginning of this writing. They are familiar: We read them in Sunday School, in church, in American literature, and also in the history lessons of our heritage. We know these verses, and possibly, we have even heard so many sermons preached utilizing these verses that we tend to ‘gloss over’ the application of the verses when they are used anew.
Consider a moment that the application of Jesus’ teaching to His disciples ended in the place where the words ended in the above writing.
Suppose:
- “You are the salt of the earth; . . .”
- “You are the light of the world. . . .”
Yes, suppose we begin to think we are ‘salt and light’ so that others will see us.
Just suppose Jesus ended His teaching like this: “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, . . .”
Imagine there is not a continuation, a finish, an ending to the words of Jesus.
Truly. Just imagine!
What if Jesus had nothing more to say about the work we do here on earth?
What if Jesus had no reason to speak these words to His disciples—other than to make them feel good about themselves and the works they do?
- We would be a most miserable people!
- We would be a most horrible, unfaithful group of Christians who focused only on the acts we did so others would see our good works and nothing else.
- We would be working only for ourselves & not for our Father in heaven.
Thank goodness, Jesus uses additional words & continues teaching His disciples, and ends this Scripture with the focal reason for ‘being salt & light’ in the world.
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works,
(The Gospel According to Matthew 5: 16 NASB)
and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
For the last four school terms, I have taught English in a new place. During my short tenure in this place, we have received a new president, a new leader. Our new university president speaks words of motivation, often asking questions of us, and always leads by example. He is easy to follow, and it becomes quite easy to sense the energy and excitement on campus because of his leadership. Whenever the campus president ends his talk, his address, or whenever I finish reading his writing, he faithfully ends with words that paraphrase the words of Jesus.
“Be Salt & Light.”
Thus, today, as we focus upon the words Jesus taught His disciples, the question becomes: Why We Are Called to Be Salt & Light of the World?
To better understand the ‘Why,’ we need to re-read the words of Jesus, the words that follow after—“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, . . .”
We are not called to be: “the salt of the earth” nor are we called to be “the light of the world” so the people we encounter in our lives will see our good works and say, “Wow, did you see so & so and the work he accomplished?”
No!
Our best skill, our best talent, our gift, or what we are good at doing has NOTHING TO DO WITH US!To think that it does is a self-centered focus, not a God-centered focus.
Let’s re-read one final time (the remainder of Jesus’ words to His disciples) so we can UNDERSTAND THE REASON WHY (which I have taken the liberty to underline).
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works,
(The Gospel According to Matthew 5: 16-18 NASB)
and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets;
I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.
For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.”