How Salty are You? by Alan Blackmon

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Salt has been a game-changer in human history for thousands of years. It preserved food, added flavor, and even served as medicine in some cultures. In ancient Rome, salt was so valuable that soldiers received a special allowance, called “salarium,” to buy it. That’s where our modern word "salary" comes from, and along with it, the phrase "worth our salt."

To be "worth our salt" means doing our job well, earning our keep, and living up to expectations. It’s about being capable, reliable, and excellent at what we do.

So, as Christians, here’s the question: Are we worth our salt?

In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus describes believers as "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world". These are powerful metaphors that illustrate the role and influence of Christians in the world.

Let us examine what it means to be “the salt of the earth.”

Matthew 5:13 “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.” (ESV)

Jesus said that the believers are to be salt. Salt has many qualities: It adds flavor to food, preserves it from decay, and even creates thirst.  Salt was also a symbol of covenant and purity, reminding believers of their role in upholding God’s standards and living lives that reflect His holiness. (Leviticus 2:13, Numbers 18:19, and 2 Chronicles 13:5)

As believers, our lives should reflect Jesus.  Every disciple of Jesus should ask themselves: Is my saltiness bringing out the richness of God’s truth in a world prone to moral decay? Is my life exposing and standing against things that are contrary to God’s character?  If we answer no, then we are losing our saltiness.

Salt loses its flavor when it becomes contaminated.  There are many subtle “contaminants” that can dull a believer’s spiritual witness. Here are a few examples that often creep in unnoticed:

• Compromise with cultural values: When believers begin to adopt the world’s standards of success or emulate the world’s morality without discernment, contaminants will dilute our distinctive Christlike lifestyle.
• Spiritual complacency:  A gradual neglect of prayer, Scripture, and fellowship can lead to a stagnant faith, where passion for God is replaced by routine or apathy. When we find ourselves just “going through the motions,” then our saltiness has become compromised.
• Unforgiveness and bitterness: They act as a dam and block the flow of His grace, making it difficult to reflect Christ’s love.
• People-pleasing: When the fear of man outweighs the fear of God, believers may stay silent on truth or compromise convictions to avoid rejection.
• Hidden sin or habitual disobedience: Even private sins, if unconfessed, can erode spiritual integrity and hinder the Spirit’s work in and through us.
• Neglecting the mission: When believers lose sight of their calling to be salt and light, they become inward-focused, forgetting their role as ambassadors of Jesus.

Jesus warns us that if salt loses its saltiness, it becomes useless. Each compromise will slowly corrode our “saltiness,” by weakening our witness and dulling its impact. When this happens, our influence loses its distinct Godly flavor, and it is cast out into the streets to be trampled on by the world.  

A damaged witness can be difficult to rebuild, but the good news is that Jesus specializes in restoration. When we return to Him with humility and repentance, He revives our saltiness and renews our sense of purpose. As 1 John 1:9 reminds us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (ESV)

Practical Applications

1. Live with Integrity: Demonstrate honesty and moral courage in daily interactions, preserving godly principles in a world prone to corruption. Example: Stand for truth in the workplace, even when it’s unpopular. "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.” Proverbs 11:3 (ESV)
2. Season Relationships with Grace: Speak words that encourage and correction that uplift others, reflecting Christ’s love. Example: Offer kind words to a struggling coworker or friend. Even offer to pray for their situation, and be genuine.
3. Serve with Love and Purpose: Jesus emphasizes love for God and neighbor as central to the Christian life (Matthew 22:37-40). This includes acts of kindness, generosity, and compassion. "...learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause."  Isaiah 1:17 (ESV)
4. Being a Witness: Sharing the gospel through words and actions is a key aspect of the Christian Walk (Acts 1:8). Engage your community that knows you and let the salt of God do its work.

Remember, to be the salt of the earth is to live with purpose, and to bring the flavor of God’s truth to every area of life. Through integrity, grace, service, and a bold witness, we reflect Christ and stir a hunger for righteousness in others.

So, let us do God’s calling to make disciples by reflecting Christ and glorifying God in all we do. As Ephesians 2:10 declares: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (ESV)

Stay salty, my friend. Our life in Christ leaves a flavor the world can’t ignore!

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Copyright 2025 James Alan Blackmon and Grace Outreach Ministries Asia (GOMAsia). All content on this website, including text, images, documents, and graphics, is protected by copyright. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use is strictly prohibited. For permission requests, please contact ablackmon@gomasia.com.