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Following Christ goes far beyond private spirituality. It involves a believers public life, particularly through work and participation in the community. Jesus used two comparisons to describe this: salt (Matt. 5:13) and light (5:14-16).
In Jesus day salt was used to preserve foods, like fish. In the same way believers can help to preserve society from moral and spiritual decay. Of course in our time salt has given way to preservatives and refrigeration. Jesus would probably use a different comparison today.
He could use an infection-fighting drug, like penicillin, or the sulfa drugs developed in the 1940s that have proved so valuable against meningitis and pneumonia. Christians can help to ward off spiritual infection and disease in the wider society. One of the most powerful ways to do this is at work, particularly in jobs that affect values, laws and public opinion. Thats why believers need to pursue careers in education, government, and journalism. Here and in other jobs they can use their measure of influence to promote Christ like values and to hinder evil.
Jesus also called his followers light for the whole world (5:14), an image that fits perfectly into modern society. The people of the first century would be astonished to see the availability and importance of light today. We use it not only to illuminate but also to communicate. As his followers, Jesus wants us to shine, to be visible and attractive, not to bring attention to ourselves, but to bring people to God (5:16). Again, our jobs are one of the primary means we have to reflect Christ to others.
Jesus teaching here challenges us to ask ourselves: How are we engaging our society? What spiritual infections are we resisting? What positive changes are we promoting? What impact for God are we having through our work? Do we still have the taste of salt (5:13)? Are we burned-out street lights, ineffective and waiting to be changed? Or are we shining brilliantly with the love and truth of Christ?
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