“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. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:13-16
being salt & light
In Matthew chapter 5, Jesus proclaims to His audience that they are both the salt of the earth and the light of the world. From the context of this passage, we know these words are intended for those who believe in Christ—His disciples. To put it simply, being salt and light is part of who we are as Christians. What isn’t as simple, however, is how we live this out—or rather how well we live this out.
Our ability to be salt and light, and to do so effectively, is a challenge. Jesus Himself hints at this when He warns that salt can lose its saltiness or that light can be hidden under a bowl. This reality confronts us with a difficult truth; we can fail to do this well! One arena where this is put to the test is in our workplace. For many believers, the workplace is a central environment where we interact with unbelievers. As Christians, we sometimes forget that it’s not just about the work requirements—it’s one of the many places where we must be salt and light.
Christians don’t always embody salt and light in the workplace, and I believe two key factors often hinder us. First, some assume being salt and light means openly sharing the gospel with everyone at their place of work. This view can perhaps spark fear—proclaiming the gospel might cost us our jobs, especially in companies where policies treat such sharing as a terminable offense. Yet being salt and light isn’t solely about evangelism, though it can include it at times. There may be moments when we’re called to share the gospel with coworkers, even at a risk. But here’s the catch: if we’re not consistently living as salt and light—it will be much harder to earn the trust needed to speak about our faith effectively and ultimately share the gospel when Christ gives us the opportunity.
Second, I think we forget to be salt and light because we don’t always consider the depth of Christ’s metaphor. The very nature of how God created salt and light teaches us much about fulfilling our role. In this article, I want to explore what being salt and light includes and how we can apply it in our everyday workplaces.
light
The Bible often uses light as a powerful metaphor, revealing its nature and actions—frequently tied to God, Jesus, truth, righteousness, and the calling of believers. Understanding how Scripture describes light, especially in relation to Christ, helps us grasp our own role as light in the world. Consider these examples from God’s Word:
Light dispels darkness - John 1:4-5, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Light showcases God’s work - Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Light guides and offers life - John 8:12,“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Light produces good fruit - Ephesians 5:8-9,“Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true.”
Light reveals truth and aids in cleansing - 1 John 1:5-7, “God is light… if we walk in the light, as he is in the light… the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”
Light provides courage and protection - Psalm 27:1, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?”
Light transforms - Isaiah 60:1-3, “Arise, shine, for your light has come… nations shall come to your light.”
These are just a few ways Scripture portrays light. Many of these qualities reflect Christ Himself, yet they also guide us as His followers. If I’m to be “light” in my workplace, it means forsaking cynicism, ungodly speech, prideful words, lying, gossip, and slander. Instead, it requires that I care for people, speak truth, leave others better than I found them, protect the vulnerable, and seize opportunities to glorify God. Consistently living this way will impact those around us—and brings glory to our God.
Such outcomes can be inspiring, but we must remember that darkness doesn’t always welcome light. Light exposes, reveals, and even repels darkness—those clinging to wicked ways may resist it. Being light at work, doesn’t automatically guarntee an easy work day. Yet we should press on, because darkness is blinding and cold, and our world has too much of that already. True, Christlike light is loving, patient, honest, and transformative. It has the potential to both warm and welcomes the lost to know Christ. We need more Christians who take this role seriously in their workplaces.
salt
The Bible portrays salt as a multifaceted substance, revealing its practical and symbolic roles—often tied to preservation, and purity. By understanding how Scripture uses salt, we uncover what it means to be “salt of the earth” in our lives. Here are some of its effects from God’s Word:
Salt preserves and prevents decay – Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored”
Salt enhances flavor – Job 6:6, “Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt, or is there any taste in the white of an egg?”
Salt purfies and heals - 2 Kings 2:20-21,“Then he went to the spring of water and threw salt in it and said, ‘Thus says the Lord, I have healed this water.’”
Salt seasons speech – Colossians 4:6,“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you mayknow how you ought to answer each person.”
Salt is a remarkable substance. It has the abilty to slow rot, heal, and even improve the quality of life. It is both useful and enjoyable. Does that describe us in our workplace? Does our character slow the spread of worldly decay or enrich the conversations at work? A salty Christian (as described above) will be both helpful and improve upon the atmosphere of the workplace.
What might this look like practically? I picture a Christian worker whose speech is pure (they don’t talk like an R-Rated movie character), they politely refuse to contribute in weekly gossip or slander ( for salt preserves). At the same time, they don’t isolate from people, but find ways to help, show kindness, or extend compassion (for salt enhances). Their presence an steady a tense meeting, bring peace to conflict or even add joy on stressful days. That’s salt at work.
Yet we must be mindful about two truths about salt. First, it must come into contact with something to work. Christians can’t isolate themselves from unbelieving coworkers. They need exposure to our saltiness, just as food needs salt to be preserved. Second, salt loses its effectiveness when contaminated or diluted. We must guard against letting bitterness, compromise, apathy or a host of other sins water down our testimony. Salt that has lost it’s saltniess is, “no longer good for anything, except to be thrown or trampled underfoot.”
CONCLUSION
When salt and light are present, both tend to stand out. Each is distinct, useful, and even appreciated in its own way. As Christians, this means staying engaged and mindful of our role. Let’s not hide our light under a basket or dilute our salt with worldly behavior. Our unbelieving coworkers and friends need us to be what God has called us to be. When we do this well, we actually build wonderful bridges with our coworkers that might even allow for us to have really good gospel opportunities! Lets us endeavor to follow the example of our Savior—Jesus, the light of the world, who loved the lost and seasoned the earth with grace.