Salt & Light

After the beatitudes Jesus gives us a set of short analogies concerning the properties of salt and light.  (Mt 5:13-16).  The take-home message is that they are both needed, or there will be lack.  If salt has no flavor our food will be bland, and the salt is useless.  If a city has light that is hidden, no one will see the city; a hidden light is also useless.  We are to “shine” our lights so everyone can see them.  These little stories may seem simple, but Jesus would not tell us that we have something to be used, things that are needed by others, unless there was a good reason. 

One of the reasons that good Christian people do not add their salt, and do not shine their lights, is fear of rejection.  Another reason is because of a misconception about what humility is.  Because we often use humility wrongly, as a reason to keep silent when we fear men, this lesson is about what humility is, and what it is not.

Life is like a puzzle, and we all have pieces to share with each other.  The proud person thinks he has all the pieces and that his incomplete picture is all there is to see.  He doesn’t listen to others who could fill in the gaps for him.  Yet, the person who believes that humility is the denying of having any pieces at all can never have a picture, neither can he help anyone else with pieces they need.  The truth is, we all have need, and we all have pieces to share.  The humble person will both take, and give.

Paul illustrated this concept when he wrote about body ministry.  Each part of the body ministers to the other parts, and all parts are needed and useful (Eph 4:16; 1 Cor 12:14-21).  It would be just as foolish for one part to say it had nothing to contribute as it would be proud for another part to say it needed nothing.  We each have something to share, and each part is valuable.  One of the best ways to overcome fear of rejection is to acknowledge the value of what we have to give.   Jesus was a humble man and yet was the both the salt of the earth and the Light of Life.  Today, be the salt and the light.