Living Upside Down: Being Salt and Light in a Dark World

Jesus calls us to live differently - to live upside down compared to the world's expectations. In Matt. 5, right after the Beatitudes, Jesus gives us both our defensive and offensive spiritual strategies. He tells us to be the salt of the earth (defense) and the light of the world (offense).


What Does It Mean to Be the Salt of the Earth?

Jesus says, "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet" (Matthew 5:13).

Salt in Jesus' time served crucial purposes:

  • It preserved food by keeping bacteria out
  • It purified what it touched
  • It prevented decay and pushed back rot

As Christians, we're called to be salt - to purify and find our purpose. We're not called to perfection (we'll never be sinless), but we can sin less. We reflect the purity we have in Jesus Christ.


How Has Christianity Been Salt Throughout History?

Christianity has changed the world by being salt in numerous ways:

  • Increasing the value of life - Christians elevated the worth of the elderly, those with disabilities, the young, and the unborn in a world that often discarded them.
  • Promoting sexual morality - In a Roman world filled with prostitution, pedophilia, and immorality, Christians established the sacred nature of sex within marriage.
  • Elevating women - Jesus and Christianity gave women dignity and worth in societies where they were considered property.
  • Establishing charity and compassion - Christians pioneered hospitals, orphanages, and organized care for the needy.
  • Dignifying labor - Christians promoted the value and dignity of work and fair treatment of workers.


How Can Salt Lose Its Saltiness?

The Greek word for "lose its taste" actually means "to be foolish and immoral in behavior." When we compromise our purity, we compromise our purpose. As Kelly Minter explains: "We lose our saltiness when we try to blend a little of the world with a little Jesus. We grow lackluster when we try to follow Christ while also indulging passions and desires that lead us away from his heart." When we decrease our purity, we decrease our purpose. We might gain something temporarily through sin, but what we lose is far greater.


What Does It Mean to Be the Light of the World?

Jesus continues: "You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand. And it gives light to all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16). While salt plays defense, light goes on offense. Light:

  • Gives guidance
  • Shows your steps
  • Brings growth
  • Provides warmth
  • Pushes back darkness


How Is God's Light Shining in Our World Today?

Despite what we often hear, God's light is shining brightly:

  • Bible translation is expected to reach every language by 2033
  • Churches are sending missionaries worldwide
  • In Houston alone, 1 in 4 people were born in a different country, with 140 languages spoken
  • Nearly 30 million more US adults have claimed a personal commitment to Jesus since 2021
  • Bible purchases increased by 22% in 2024, with young men in their twenties being the largest group of new Bible buyers


How Can We Shine Our Light in the Workplace?

On average, we'll spend about 90,000 hours at work during our lifetime - over a third of our waking life. This gives us an incredible platform to shine Christ's light. Matthew 5:16 says, "Let your light shine before others so they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." Our good works make God's goodness visible. Labor Day reminds us of several important truths:

  • Work is sacred (Col. 3:23)
  • Rest is holy
  • Justice matters in how we treat workers
  • Our vocation is a place of mission


How Do Salt and Light Work Together?

Warren Wiersbe beautifully explains how salt and light complement each other: "Salt is hidden. It works secretly and slowly. Light is seen. It works openly and quickly. The influence of Christian character is quiet and penetrating. The influence of Christian conduct is obvious and attracting. The two go together and reinforce each other."


Life Application

This week, consider how you can be both salt and light in your daily life:

  • Examine your saltiness: Where have you compromised purity by blending worldly values with your faith? Ask God to restore your saltiness and recommit to living with integrity.
  • Shine your light intentionally: In your workplace, school, or community, look for specific ways to let your good works point others to God. Remember, you'll spend 90,000 hours of your life at work - how can you make those hours count for eternity?
  • Balance defense and offense: Are you stronger at being salt (preserving, defending truth) or light (actively sharing, demonstrating faith)? How can you grow in your weaker area?

Ask yourself: Where is God calling me to be salt this week? Where is He calling me to be light? How can my good works make God's goodness visible to those around me? Remember, we don't shine our light for our own glory, but so others will glorify our Father in heaven.