Salt and Light

Salt and Light

Matthew 5:13-16 NLT
"You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. [14] "You are the light of the world-like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. [15] No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. [16] In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

We are called to be salt and Light, to stand out, to make a difference. To do this its necessary to deal with the things in our lives that do not reflect God's light. Recently we heard from the WOW girls on what they do to be salt and light. Each of them said that it starts with relationship with God. Everything flows from there.

If we understand what grace has been given us and we choose relationship, then we will want to deal with the stuff that dims our light and destroys our 'flavour'. But what are the key challenges? What does the Bible say to help us live as salt and light?

For each of us they will be different,  but I will touch on a few.

1. Kindness and forgiveness v Anger
Matthew 5:21-22 NLT
"You have heard that our ancestors were told, 'You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.' [22] But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.

Jesus tells us that anger is not helpful. In fact Jesus is tough with this stuff. He declares that we are subject to judgement when we hold on to anger. This sounds harsh but it is because anger is destructive. James tells us to be quick to listen,  slow to speak and slow  to get angry.

James 1:19-21 NLT
Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. [20] Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. [21] So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

When we are angry we forget to listen, we speak out of turn and it certainly does not help us live God's way. In Ephesians Paul tells us that we are to get rid of anger.

Ephesians 4:17-32 NLT
With the Lord's authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. [18] Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. [19] They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity. [20] But that isn't what you learned about Christ. [21] Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, [22] throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. [23] Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. [24] Put on your new nature, created to be like God-truly righteous and holy. [25] So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. [26] And "don't sin by letting anger control you." Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, [27] for anger gives a foothold to the devil. [28] If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. [29] Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. [30] And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. [31] Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. [32] Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Get rid of.... v 31

In other words remove it completely from your life.  Don't package it away and store it in a room. For example, I have a spare room that basically acts as a storeroom. Things I'm not using get stored away. Sometimes we hold on to anger like this and we store it away for a later date. The bible tells us to get rid of anger. 

This is not the emotion of anger referred to earlier in this passage that we are to deal with, keeping short accounts. It is actually referring to a person who is characterised by anger. This is the person who has deep seated anger. We are told to get rid of it and to remove from our lives the trappings that go with it.

Be deliberate in getting rid of those things that get in the way; remove them and then replace them with positive steps. We are not to keep a void. This passage doesn't leave us hanging in limbo. Instead, it provides an alternative. For each issue it deals with, it gives another option, a God option. Instead of anger and bitterness, rage etc. we are to live with kindness, and forgiveness.

Kindness and forgiveness bring better outcomes in every area of life. Our relationships are stronger when we are kind to one another, and when we offer forgiveness to each other.

Some practical steps:

• Acknowledge the anger and it's cause,  then look at what within you has reacted?
• Is it something that requires action. We can feel angry about injustice etc. But what has been triggered in us. I
• s it a boundary issue, has someone or something hurt us?
• Don't blame another person. Accept that dealing with the anger is our responsibility.

Next step - determine to forgive, and to forgive the person and the loss or the debt.
Remember, forgiveness means letting go of the offence and  never holding it against the person or using it against them.

Matthew 5:43-47 NLT

"You have heard the law that says, 'Love your neighbor' and hate your enemy. [44] But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! [45] In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. [46] If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. [47] If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.

Do it differently.  Set an example.

What causes anger to rise up?

What steps do I need to take to deal with anger or one of its trappings?

Who do I need to forgive?

Where can I show kindness?

2. Generosity v Materialism

The reason this is here is because in our culture and our society, materialism is pervasive and can become invasive in our psyche. We like to think we are free from it, but every day we are bombarded by it and it creeps into our lives so easily.

We go to Vietnam and we see how others live and realise just how materialistic we are. We come home saying how challenged we are, desiring to be different and then before we know it, we are caught in the loop again of our Western mindset.

Sometimes we think we must have things and we simply don't need them. How many of us have bought something and never used it. Sometimes we justify it and it becomes a habit that we don't even realise we have.
Jesus hits it head on. 

Matthew 6:19-27 NLT

"Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. [20] Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. [21] Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. [22] "Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. [23] But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! [24] "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. [25] "That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life-whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing? [26] Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are? [27] Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

What treasures do we store up on earth? What is the best use of our money? Maybe it's just me,  but I'm sure we've all thought "I wish I had...",  Or "I could really use...". Its the trap of materialism. Jesus gives us the alternative. God cares about the things we need. He cares about whether or not we have enough to eat,  drink,  roof over our head. The question for us is, do we really believe that God cares about those things?

1 Timothy 6:6-8, 17-19 NLT
Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. [7] After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can't take anything with us when we leave it. [8] So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.

[17] Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. [18] Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. [19] By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.

Paul writes to Timothy giving him Instructions  on how to live and what to teach others. 

• Learn contentment
• Trust God
• Be generous
• Do good works. 

This is how we store up treasure that won't rust or be destroyed but has eternal worth. This is contrary to almost everything the world says to do. The world says spend it, compete with others, have the best of everything you don't need. Jesus says give, be generous, make a difference. This is what sets you up for the future. 

This does not mean we can't make money. Jesus told the parable of the talents.  Those who invested and made money were commended. We are to be good stewards of the masters money. But it is the masters money, not ours. We give account for what we do with it. 

Love God, use money, not the other way around. 

Some practical steps.

• Know your weakness with money
• Take responsibility for it, and develop an intentional plan of action to deal with it
• Take small faith steps - learning to trust in God's word
• Exercise faith and be deliberately generous

What areas of my life am I not trusting God for?

How well am I stewarding God's resources? What can I change to be a better steward of those resources?

Where or to whom can I show generosity?

How can I store up treasure in heaven?

Am I living as salt and Light in this area of my life?