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The word "salt" is where our word "salary" comes from. Back in the Roman Rule, the Roman soldier often got paid in salt, as salt, before refrigeration, was a very valuable commodity. Hence, the old saying, "he is not worth his salt". He is not worth his salary that is his wages. He's good for nothing. Salt was not only used to flavor food but to preserve foodstuff. There is Biblical reference to salt as a preservative. Lev 2:13 And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the "salt of the covenant" of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt. Num 18:19 All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the LORD, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: it is a "covenant of salt" for ever before the LORD unto thee and to thy seed with thee. 2 Chr 13:5 Ought ye not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a "covenant of salt"? A SALT COVENANT. An "everlasting" Covenant that God made with Abraham. A Covenant that will be PRESERVED FOREVER. There is Biblical reference to salt as a flavoring. Matt 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Mark 9:50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another. "Savour" and "saltness" is in reference to the flavoring attributes, or nature of salt. Luke 14:34-35 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. If salt has lost it's flavoring attributes it is not worth a, "you know what". Col 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. People will work on their jobs and speak OFTEN of "fellow employees" of not doing their job. They will speak of "fellow employees" of not being worth their salt/wages. They will speak of "sorry workers that should know better". They speak of them in "disgust". They want "no part of them". They will not be identified with them IN ANY WAY, and if they quit or get fired, it is GOOD RIDDENCE. The company didn't lose much of nothing and THEY sure didn't. Like the old song says, THANK GOD AND GREYHOUND THERE'RE GONE I mean, this really bothers them to work with, or alongside a "sorry worker". But these SAME PEOPLE, who profess to be Christian, will tolerate a fellow SORRY CHRISTIAN. WHY?? Don't ask me. I don't know. I DO KNOW that this is a "sorry state of affairs" and I don't like it one bit. Where are Christian priorities? Have "they", and "their salt" fell to.the dung heap? Are they worth their salt? Do they call Jesus Christ, Lord? Do they call Him Master? If they do, do they lie? Do they do their required service to Him? Do they "play around on the job even though they know better"? ARE they WORTH THEIR SALT? Is Christ REALLY their Lord and Master? Do they belong to Him? "Really" and "Truly"? Do they play around in serving Him and obeying Him because they are a "union/church member" and have no fear of getting fired? "Have they no fear of God"? Eccl 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. I speak to you with Joseph Gen 42:18 And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God: I speak to you with David. I will give you my testimony. Ps 66:16 Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul. I speak to you with the Apostle Paul. Acts 13:16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. Listen to me. Do you say, "God blesses me, can't you see"? "I must be in His will". Let us examine ourselves in light of "God's Word" not "material blessings". Matt 5:45 says that God"… maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." Eccl 8:11-14 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God. There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity. This is true. Many times, just men seem to have things happen to them as if they were unjust, and unjust men have things happen to them as if they were just. We must NOT judge our standing with God by "material things we call blessings", as "lost sinners get perceived blessings" which are in reality "their lot in life". Luke 13:1-2 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Luke 13:4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? Luke 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Some sinners suffer more that others and some are perceived to be blessed, and some righteous suffer more than others and some are blessed more that others. An example of the longsuffering of God because of the prayers, or the work of His saints. Luke 13:6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Luke 13:7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? God says, "I give up on this thing". "Destroy it," but the servant, or man of God intervenes in behalf of the unfruitful tree, or Christian. Luke 13:8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: Luke 13:9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. Everything to do and how to do it can be found here in "God's Rule Book". I call it the "King James Bible". We must examine ourselves and judge ourselves often, IN LIGHT OF GOD'S WORD. "Nothing else" can be used as a standard if we are to get a "true picture" of our "spiritual condition". Is your Christianity an "on again, off again" Christianity. Is it a water hydrant to be loosed on Sunday mornings or Wednesday evenings and turned off again as soon as "church is out"? Do you have regular "family prayer time" at home? Mealtime and bedtime prayer is not to be confused with family prayer time. Do you have regular "Bible readings at home" and meditate on those readings? If you do not hunger for the Word of God you are sick. You are spiritually sick. When your child looses his appetite, or picks at his food, do you not begin to worry about his physical health? If this continues for a prolonged period of time, do you not consider having him checked by a physician? If you do not hunger after God's Word, have you checked your spiritual condition? A loss of appetite usually means a decline in a mental or physical condition. It usually means a deterioration of some sort. A remedy must be prescribed and a "home remedy" is not one to be fully trusted. A trained physician prescribing a remedy is best. A prescription is "written" and this prescription must be "filled" and "consumed" or "applied" in order to be "effective". Have you lost your appetite for God's Word? Did you ever have it? If the truth be a yes to number one. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS. They are "habit forming". They are "addictive". You will grow back in love with His Word. You will get "spiritually better". You will get "spiritually well". If the truth be yes to number two, EXAMINE YOURSELF. Why hasn't the Holy Spirit of God instilled a love of His Word in you? Why don't you see the GREAT PHYSICAN? Are you afraid of the COST? Salvation is FREE but "walking the walk" is in "paying the cost". Must Jesus bear the Cross alone And all the world go free? No, there's a cross for everyone And there's a cross for me. The consecrated cross I'll bear Till death shall set me free, And then go home my crown to wear For there's a crown for me. There's a cross for you too. Do your part. Bear it. There's a symbol for you too. Show it. Wear it. There's a lifestyle for you too. Live it There's a witness in you too. Give it Be the SALT of the earth. Salt is inconspicuous. It is low profile. It doesn't froth, foam or fizzle, yet it is the "spice of life". Let your light so shine that others may see Christ IN YOU by your lifestyle. Inconspicuously live an irreproachable lifestyle. Walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh. Be the SALT of the earth. Be a stinging salt in the open sores of sin. Make the sinner bite. Be the substance that reminds him of his wounds. SALT, if not used is worthless. Be a LIGHT in this dark world of sin. Don't be a part of it. Be SALT in the bland soup of sin, so others may know that there is something better. Be the cause of preservation for some lost soul. Flavor his soup with SALT, and forget about Mrs. Dash. There is NO SUBSTITUTE for the REAL THING and I'm not talking about Coke here. There is NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN, but the LIGHT of the World who gave you a dash of SALT. Please use it. Accept no substitute. AMEN [ http://www.cnview.com ] |