"Salt is a good thing," said Jesus. What did he mean by that?

Salt is one of the earth's most important minerals. Jesus uses the truth about salt when he describes the life and conduct of a Christian. He addressed his disciples and said:

"You are the salt of the earth."

Matt 5:13 NKJV

Salt is an important thing for the maintenance of life. Without salt, food will rot and become inedible. The body needs it to function. Additionally, salt makes food tasty. There are three important aspects of salt: preventing decay, making food tasty, and the body needs it to function properly, especially when it comes to maintaining heart and vascular function.

In Jesus' time, salt was mainly obtained from the Dead Sea. It was good salt. But some used to mix other minerals with this salt. That made the salt lose its strength and become useless as salt. This is what Jesus had in mind when he said:

"Salt is a good thing, but when the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?"

Luke 14:34 NKJV

Metaphorically, it means that the Christian life has become so secularized and mixed with worldly matters that it no longer has the preserving and strengthening function of salt. Useless salt in Jesus' time was thrown on the road outside the house where one lived so that people could just walk on it. About such watered-down salt, Jesus says:

"It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men."

Matt 5:13 NKJV

Are we salt that prevents decay in our society – or have we become so spiritually weak and dull that we have no influence in our community? We are good for nothing, useless. We are overlooked and lack spirit and power. Perhaps backsliding? Then there is only one thing we must do: See our spiritual condition as God sees it, repent, and be filled with His Spirit and life once again. Then there is hope for us all.

"God, give me your salt so that I can influence the world I live in – without being overlooked and trampled upon."

The word Christian means "a little Christ."