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What is Salt? by Akiiki Kabagarama
Read Matt 5: 1-16“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by people.” Matthew 5:13
Jesus summarized the conduct that leads to a successful life in the Beatitudes, a portion of the scripture commonly referred to as the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-11). After this great lesson, Jesus added, “You are the salt of the earth;” (Matt 5:13). Have you ever wondered why salt is important?
I grew up in a region of Uganda where there was a salt lake, called Lake Katwe. People came from other parts of the country to get salt from this lake. On market days, I remember seeing women sitting in a row, selling salt. As a matter of fact, my own Godmother retired early from her teaching profession so that she could sell salt both in her small shop and in the township market.
Besides adding flavor to food, salt has many other uses. It is a preservative for food and can also help sores dry up quickly. Salt is also a friendship maker and community builder. Think of how often you have asked people, during a meal, to pass on salt. Obviously, salt breaks the silence and opens doorways of conversation.
Salt also tenderizes meat and breaks down fat. Although this may sound strange to some of you, one of the best soups we had in Uganda, called Esabwe , was prepared by mixing butter and a certain type of salt called Muhonde . (Before rushing to prepare this recipe, be warned that these ingredients are special and the soup is prepared by experts!)
We also made friends through the exchange of salt. I remember being sent to neighbors to ask for salt when our supply ran out. I also remember neighbors coming to us whenever they needed salt.
Salt was often used as a payment for labor rendered as well. When people helped to dig wells, build houses, collect firewood, harvest crops, or construct roads and bridges, their payment often came in the form of salt.
For the past twenty-five years, I have lived in the U.S. When there is ice on the roads I often see trucks going around, spraying salt to melt the ice. We do the same thing in our drive way in Kansas.
When Jesus told us we are the salt of the earth, it is a great privilege we are given! It means we get to perform life-sustaining functions. We are called to be healers, breakers of barriers, friendship makers, bridge builders and flavoring for life!
How are you playing your role of the salt of the earth?
Please do not lose your saltiness. Keep on living and help others remain alive.Prayer
