Salty!

The story has been related regarding a young salesman who was disappointed over the loss of a sizable sale. Moaning to his sales manager, he said, “I guess it just proves the truth of the saying ‘You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.’” The manager responded, “Your job isn’t to make him drink. Your job is to make him thirsty!” [source: adapted from bulletin clipping]

What is the impact of our Christian life on those around us? We can’t force others to believe. As much as we might like, we can’t drag them to church services to hear the message of God. And though some seem to have tried, cramming the Bible down another’s throat is generally not very well received. We may possess a great desire for others to accept the truth of God (and we should), but what we are to be mindful of doing on a daily basis is living and talking in a manner that begins to create the desire -- the THIRST -- within themselves.

Jesus stated…
“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.” ( Matthew 5:13 ESV)

There are a number of analogies which can be drawn from Jesus’ teaching on our being “the salt of the earth.” When we consider salt’s healing, preservative, and seasoning powers, it is not hard to consider how our lives can impact others in such ways. Though we do need to be careful to not over allegorize Jesus’ illustration, we do understand the power of salt to produce great THIRST as well. Salt in too large a quantity can make one sick. However, salt dispensed in palatable quantities can begin to gradually create a THIRST that must be satisfied.

Paul exhorted…
“(5) CONDUCT YOURSELVES WISELY TOWARD OUTSIDERS, making the best use of the time. (6) LET YOUR SPEECH ALWAYS BE GRACIOUS, SEASONED WITH SALT, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” ( Colossians 4:5-6
ESV)

Paul did not teach for God’s message to be honey-coated. The truth of its promises and warnings are to be extended as plain and clear as they have been recorded. However, the way in which we gently and lovingly speak the truth and live it out in our daily lives can serve to create a THIRST that will ultimately cause others to want to drink in God’s satisfying truth.

Let us be “the salt of the earth”; living and speaking wisely to instill in others a THIRST for God’s Way. May we live for the purpose of helping others come to know how it is by thirsting after God’s righteousness ( Matthew 5:6) that it is possible to truly be satisfied.

Have a great day LEADING OTHERS TO THE LIVING WATER OF JESUS!
Carl

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