The Salt & the Light

The Salt & the Light

This Sunday, brother Ewe Jin, chief editor of the Sunday Star, shared the sermon as CDC continued its series on the Sermon of the Mount. The text was Matthew 5:13-16, the Lord’s vision for each of us to be the salt and light of the world.  

 13"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 men.

 14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

The main role of Salt is to preserve and give flavor. The main function of light is to drive away darkness. As the Lord’s disciples, we are the salt and the light. Once we receive Christ into our hearts, and acknowledge ourselves as Christians, we become the Lord’s representatives on the earth, “little Christs” as some would say. However, we are tempted everyday to conform to the world’s standards and principles which are beneath our godly principles found in the Word of God. If we continue to conform to the world, we will lose our “saltiness”, and become no longer good for anything. Likewise, to be effective “lights” for Christ, we need to stand up and shine. If we allow darkness to overwhelm us, our light deems and lose its purpose, for no one can see the goodness that should be in us.

Brother Eugene focused on three main areas where we really need to ask ourselves whether we are really being the salt and the light.

Firstly, in the home, husbands must ask themselves whether they love their wives as Christ loves the church. They must ask themselves if they are bringing up their children in the ways of God. We need to be the salt and light, first and foremost, in the home, where our true nature is most revealed.

Secondly, at work, we need to check our behavior and attitude. Do we indulge freely in procrastination, gossip and politicking as worldly unbelievers do? Are we bent on money and promotion no matter what the cost? We need to work hard honestly, for God loves a fruitful worker. Yet, we also need to maintain our integrity and principles at work, to refuse to do what is wrong. Do we seek the applause of man or the applause of heaven?

Finally, at play, we also need to check ourselves. Do our social activities reflect who we are as the salt and light? Do we drink just because our friends drink, or indulge in unholy behavior just to be one of the crowd? Brother Eugene encourages us to make our stand clear from the beginning so that others will respect us.

In all these things, and the good work that we do, Brother Eugene warns us in conclusion, that we must be careful not to glorify ourselves, but do it all for the glory of God! 

God bless,

Jason