It’s been a particularly difficult winter for many parts of the US. Here in the midwest, we have had record cold temperatures and more snow than I can remember seeing in a long time. Of course, the cold and ice has posed lots of problems. In my own home, one of our pipes froze, then burst, forcing us to rip up or laundry room floor (where the insulation underneath was completely soaked) as well as the carpet in my husband’s office (also soaked!). On a grander scale, many cities experienced salt shortages. Without enough salt to go around they had to use it sparingly, not always able to salt needed areas or use it as liberally as they normally would.

One day in Bible study, we happened to be studying Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 and came across the following verse.

“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 underfoot.” – Matthew 5:13

I asked the class what they thought about when they thought of salt and its uses, expecting to hear such typical answers as flavoring or preserving food. But one gentleman took me by surprise when he said, “Salt is used for melting ice. We sprinkle it on our roads and sidewalks.”

Now I doubt that Jesus’ listeners were ever using salt for such a purpose, but the more I thought about his answer, the more I realized what a great application that is for our lives as believers. The world can be a cold place. Many people’s hearts are frozen. Our job is to spread the “salt” to melt away the cold and ice, and to make it possible for people to hear about God’s love and receive it.

So what happens when there is a “salt shortage?” What happens when we either don’t spread the salt we have or else when our own stores are running on low? Well, there are consequences. The snow and ice build up. The conditions worsen. There are increased problems, such as collisions and people veering off the road and getting stuck in ditches. That’s why as believers we can’t afford to hoard our salt or to hide our light.

So the next time you’re doing that dreaded task of salting your driveway or sidewalk for the umpteenth time (hopefully not again until next year!), remember that you and I are called to be the salt of the earth in a cold world. And just as many of us have been eagerly waiting for the coming of spring, so too there are many hearts that are waiting to be liberated from their icy condition. The only question is: Will we spread our salt liberally or hold it back?