I once watched a program about Amish people here in the US. One of the men being interviewed made the comment, “We are the salt of the earth.” A moment later he said, “I don’t mean that we are—I mean we’re supposed to be.” That comment got me thinking about salt and its uses in the Bible. Salt was used in Old Testament Temple worship. It was a symbol of loyalty and friendship. It was a preserver of meat. Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt when in disobedience she looked back. In the New Testament, Jesus uses salt imagery to talk about qualities of His followers. Today, let’s consider two passages from two of the Gospels:

But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. (Matt. 7:26)

Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other. (Mark 9:50)

One of the challenges we face in living out our faith is identifying the differences between the real and the counterfeit. Paul often warns us about people who appear to be genuine but are not. Two very different things that look alike are salt and sand. Salt is cohesive and sticks together, but sand falls apart. Have you ever seen a salt block? Salt blocks can be left out in the open pasture where cattle graze and even in climates with lots of rain. A salt block will hold together all year long. Sand, on the other hand, falls apart. When you sit on a sandy beach as the waves come in, you can feel the sand wash right out from under you. Jesus was referring to this quality in today’s first passage. Imagine building a house on sand. Just one big storm could wash that house out to sea! In the second passage, Jesus tells His disciples, “You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.” Another translation says, “Have salt in yourselves.” What is Jesus saying? He’s encouraging loyalty and commitment among His disciples. The Church in our day is fragmented, suspicious of one another, and often, uncooperative. And yet, it’s to His Church that Jesus says, “Have salt in yourselves and live in peace with each other.”

How about you today? Are you salty or sandy? I know you’re loyal to Jesus …but are you loyal to His other kids?