What exactly does “acting a little salty mean” by the worlds standards. It is perhaps the act of being upset, angry, or bitter possibly for being made fun of or embarrassed. It’s also a characteristic of a person who feels out of place, misunderstood or not accepted. Have you ever been salty? You probably have, so let’s take a closer look at the word, through a biblical lens not that ofthe world.
On my mind of late has been the frustration as I keep witnessing the constant mockery of God. I can’t help but wish (in the flesh of course) that a lightening bolt would jar some quick sense into people. But God is so much more patient than I. But for how long? And how does He expect me to react toward a vile world? Good question right?
In the book of Luke, Jesus has just had dinner with the Pharisees, and it says in
Luke 14:25a KJV
[25] And there went great multitudes with him:.
So He’s now left the dinner table and likely the multitudes that followed Him were a multitude of types of people, both Jew and Gentile. And he’s speaking to them in parables and stories to help them better understand what He means. That’s the difference between Jesus and the religious. The religious want you to view them as “smart,” Jesus wants you to understand. He wants you to understand so that you can then take His Word out into a lost and dying world and draw them to His saving grace. But the world doesn’t want it. They’d rather live like that religious tribe in Jesus’ day, mocking Him and pretending that they’ve got it all together when God knows their one tragedy from falling completely apart.
My text today is from the same chapter, just a few verses down in Luke 14:28-35
[28] For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it ? [29] Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, [30] Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. [31] Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? [32] Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. [33] So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. [34] Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? [35] 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.
The Mockery Begins
Jesus is speaking of an unfinished work. The person in the story has begun to build a tower but can’t finish it because the money runs dry. Who can’t identify with that, especially in our current economy? An unplanned work is a failing work.
He then speaks of a King going to war, but before he goes to war he does some reconnaissance work to determine if the war should even take place. An unplanned war is a losing war.
While both of these are matters of life, they are not of the greatest concern of the Lord. That tower will eventually fall, and the war, whether it is won or lost matters not in the scope of eternity. But for those of us who say we serve the Lord are we prepared for what the Lord asks of us? And for those who aren’t, is that the cause of the mockery?
Jesus likens it to salt that’s lost its savour, no taste, nothing worthy of using. I fear that is a description of the local church.
There is an expectation from the Lord regarding His servants. Much like the local festivals going on in our part of the world right now, it’s an honor when people are chosen to represent those organizations as Kings and Queens with all the pomp and circumstance of the affair. But here we are as the body of Almighty God, treating our position like that of a peasant. We’ve lost our flavor and we’ve left a bad taste in the mouth of the world and the worst part of all, a bad taste in the mouth our Lord. When He says he would “spew” them out in the book of Revelation it was likely because of the worthless flavor of the church. There was no spice!
What bout now? I heard someone suggest yesterday, that when we go to a church we should ask them, “When you hear the word evangelism, who is the person that comes to mind in your church.” He said he was at a church of 2,000 people and when he asked that questions they gave him the name of one person. That’s a sad indictment against that church, but is it any better in our own? I am blessed to say that we do have people that come to my mind when I hear the word evangelize, but not near enough.
So my food for thought for both you and I is “are you salty.” When you’re in the world do your words add salt to wounds of a hurting world. We have what will heal them. But are we using it? I’m not asking only for a friend, I’m asking for me. Am I using what God gave me to heal the broken world…
Shari, The Jesus chick