The Salt of the Earth

I Corinthians 5:9-13; Titus 2:1-8

GOLDEN TEXT: “Ye are the salt of the earth.”—Matthew 5:13

THE declarations of our Lord, “Ye are the salt of the earth,” and “The light of the world,” may be very properly applied to such of the Lord’s followers as give heed to His teachings and cultivate the blessed state of heart and mind which He inculcated in His teachings. All such blessed ones, in proportion as they have attained such conditions, are indeed the “salt of the earth,” and the “light of the world.”

Looking back along the aisles of history, we can see that a good influence extended from the Law Covenant God made with Israel. As the Jews scattered more or less among other nationalities, they carried with them a somewhat clear conception of the divine standards as presented in the Law; and these, wherever they went had a preservative and corrective influence amongst men. But it was Jesus and His higher law of love, exemplified in His own life and in the lives of the apostles and all his followers, who became the real salt of the earth, in a period when without it we know not what might have been the result. It is not only the spot on which the candle or lamp rests that is enlightened. The rays extend out in every direction. So should be the influence extending from every true Christian. It touches not merely his own person or home, but to some extent radiates throughout his vicinity. Similarly, it is not merely the spot that is touched by the lump of salt that is preserved, but the influence of that lump spreads over a considerable space round about it, and all with preservative influence.

Referring to that portion of our lesson taken from St. Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians, we understand he was there referring to church relationships, and that the Lord’s people are indeed bound to maintain a very high standard of purity and morals; so much so that they would not even fellowship in the church or at the common meal or love feast with any who were known positively to be of disreputable character.

This would not mean one against whom merely an evil thought had been encouraged; or one against whom the shafts of slander had been hurled. Other Scriptures show us distinctly that the Lord’s people are not to be evil surmises in their carefulness to maintain a high standard of Christian living. Verse ten seems to indicate that in our social and business affairs, we should also to a reasonable degree, avoid fellowships and dealings with the disreputable.

In the second section of our lesson we have a portion of the apostle’s letter to Titus, an overseer (bishop) of the church—ministering to the believers in the Island of Crete. The instructions are not intended for, or applicable to others than consecrated believers, and refer specifically to the various classes in the church in Crete. In the latter part of Chapter two of the book of Titus, the apostle continues with an exhortation applicable to all classes in the church.

The apostle’s thought appears to be that Titus, as a preacher, should have before his mind a certain standard or ideal in respect to each class in the church, and should as a wise workman, labor to the attainment of that ideal, which the apostle here brings clearly to his attention. The intimation is that instructions along the lines here laid down are in fullest accord with “sound doctrine.”

The first class mentioned are the elderly men, those advanced in the Christian way, experienced. These the apostle exhorts to be sober, grave, temperate (moderate)—not light, frivolous, and excitable. Not only their years of natural life, but also their years of experience in Christian life, should bring them to conditions of maturity and sobriety. Doubtless, with direct intention the apostle in this portion of our lesson emphasizes the faith, the love, and the patience, for there are various faiths, various loves, and various kinds of patience, and he meant to be understood as inculcating the faith, the love, and the patience, which are of God, and respecting which He is instructing His people through His word—“They shall be all taught of God.”

How grand the character the apostle thus portrays! We could not wish for more amongst the Lord’s people at any place today than that the matured brethren should be sober minded, dignified, and moderate, with their new minds well stored with the sound faith of God’s Word, and their hearts full of love, manifesting forth all of the various good qualities represented by His Word—kindness, meekness, gentleness—all of which might briefly he summed up in the word patience. We exhort all of the advanced brethren in the truth everywhere to note well this likeness of a matured man of God, well grown up into Christ, the living Head, and well conformed to His image. And we exhort that we all keep this image well before our minds, and make it our ideal in our Christian course.

The apostle exhorts the aged women, matured, developed, that they be “reverent in demeanor,” consistent with their profession of holiness, full consecration to the Lord, full desire to know and to do His will. The younger women should find examples in their elder saintly sisters. The influence of the home will not be in the direction of insubordination.

To the young men of the church the apostle sends an exhortation that they be sober-minded, not rash, thoughtless, that they exercise self-control. And then, in view of the fact that Titus himself was a young man, he exhorts that he should be a pattern to all the young men of the church, and thus incidentally he exhorts all of the young men to note carefully and to be exercised by the qualities under consideration, and venerated by Titus.

QUESTIONS:

To whom does the statement, “Ye are the salt of the earth,” properly apply?

Did the Law given to Israel exercise a good influence through them among the surrounding Gentile nations?

What are the responsibilities of teachers in the church with respect to the high ideals of righteousness outlined in God’s Word?

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