I went back to school today after the Thanksgiving break, and I was greeted by some students and teachers. It was good to return to my job and see a few friendly faces.
There were some, however, that did not share my positive and optimistic outlook. Some students and a few teachers had a “salty” attitude (term used by teenagers to denote someone with a bad and contentious attitude). This kind of negative viewpoint and stance is usually very contagious, and soon other students can become “salty” as well.
What do you do when a meal or a drink you are preparing is too salty? Well, you have several options. You can either discard the whole thing or attempt to sweeten it by adding more sugar or water.
When it comes to relationships, the same principle applies. If your relationship with somebody has gone sour or is too salty, you can choose to end it. You may be able to terminate some love (cheating girlfriends), professional (jobs) or personal (bad friends) relationships, if they have become too salty for you.
You cannot, however, get rid of your salty family or “spicy” spouse. Perhaps you need to add more sugar (love) in order to sweeten the relationship. I have never heard about a couple getting divorced because they loved each other too much!
If sugar doesn’t work, then you must add more water to reduce the salt content (bad attitude) in the relationship. Water, in the Bible, is a symbol of the Word of God, which cleanses us from sin (John 15:3; Ephesians 5:26).
There is a different type of saltiness that is good and desirable. I am referring to the salt that brings up the flavor in every meal. If you have ever eaten hospital food, you know exactly what I’m talking about. In their effort to reduce the saltiness in their food, they also reduce (and in many cases remove) any trace of flavor, taste or quality in their “meals.”
This is what happens when believers fail to season this world with the life-giving salt of the Gospel. Jesus said,
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men” (Matthew 5:13).
Are you salty enough in Christ? This world is filled with the wrong kind of salt. Their salt is either flavorless or too salty. The salt of Christ is just right and perfect for every person or situation. Why don’t we sprinkle some of that good salt around today?
Alexander Gonzalez
