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Salt and Light: How Christians Influence the World

Salt and Light: How Christians Influence the World

Last updated on: August 6, 2026 at 10:24 pm by Beverly R. Green

Salt and Light: How Christians Influence the World 2026-08-06T22:24:32-04:00 Beverly R. Green

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The Art of the Parable: Part 9 Influence

The Parables of Jesus teach us many lessons about life, not so much what to do and what not to do, but about how to be. They often guide how we should interact with others and how we should approach life. Serving as a moral compass, they can direct our actions and character in a way that ultimately serves others and glorifies God and our Savior Jesus Christ. They teach us how to influence others for the Kingdom of God.

I Chase Sunsets series note:

This is “The Art of the Parables” series. To read part eight, click here.

In previous lessons we have learned about the virtues of MERCY with the Good Samaritan, GRACE with the Prodigal Son, HOPE with “other lost things,” FAITH with the Sower and the Seed, PERSISTENCE with the Friend at Midnight and the Persistent Widow, and FAITHFULNESS with The Parable of the Talents. Today we will talk about HUMILITY, FORGIVENESS, WISDOM, and INFLUENCE.

Humility

Humility (The Pharisee and the Tax Collector – Luke 18:10–14): This lesson shows that we should approach God and others with humility and a contrite heart, avoiding self-righteousness, pride, or looking down on others.

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Forgiveness

Forgiveness (The Unmerciful Servant – Matthew 18:21–35): Jesus reminds us that since we have been shown immense grace, we are expected to freely forgive those who wrong us.

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had must be sold to repay the debt.

“At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

“His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’

“But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.

“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Wisdom

Wisdom (The Wise and Foolish Builders – Matthew 7:24–27): This parable instructs us to build our lives wisely on a solid foundation by actively applying Jesus’ teachings, ensuring we can stand firm and survive when difficulties arise.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Influence: Salt and Light

“Hearing the words [of Jesus] and putting them into practice” in our lives leads us straight to this final virtue that we will discuss:

Influence (Salt and Light – Matthew 5:13-16): These words of Jesus inform us that we are like the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We are called to preserve goodness, stand out like a city on a hill, show good deeds to others, and represent the Kingdom of God on the earth.

“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.

This last virtue, that we should influence others for the sake of the Kingdom of God, may actually be the most important one. Take first, the historic value of salt.

In ancient times, salt was essential for preserving food without refrigeration. It kept meat and fish from spoiling, allowing communities to store food for long winters and armies to march on extended campaigns. Today, of course, we value its flavor, but it’s still true that bacteria can’t thrive in the presence of high salt levels.

Also, the sodium in salt is necessary for human health. It helps maintain the right level of hydration in and around living cells and enables nerves and muscles to function. It also has healing qualities: salt heals through osmosis, bacterial dehydration, and reduced inflammation. It draws fluid from tissues, prevents germs from growing, and reduces swelling.

Historically, salt has been used as currency and sometimes even traded weight-for-weight for gold in regions like West Africa. Ancient empires like China built major state-controlled monopolies and taxed salt heavily to fund military projects and infrastructure. Roman soldiers received a special allowance called salarium to buy salt, which gave us the modern word “salary.” In fact, Italy’s Via Salaria (the Salt Road) was created specifically to transport the mineral from coasts and mines to inland cities.

Salt has influence!

And what about light? Think about it. When God began His acts of creation in Genesis 1:1-4 we read, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.” It was the first element created necessary to sustain all life on this planet.

I always joke around with my students when they ask me about my age. I tell them, “I remember a conversation I had one day with God. We were looking out at things and He asked me, ‘Hey Bev, you reckon they’re gonna need light?'” Soooo …

Light is essential for life primarily because it drives photosynthesis in plants, which produces the oxygen we breathe and the base of the global food chain. It also synchronizes our biological clocks, triggers vitamin D production, and warms the planet, creating the fundamental conditions required for all living organisms to survive.

Here’s a thought: it only takes one little candle or one small flashlight to conquer total darkness, but no amount of darkness can completely override the effectiveness of one tiny light.

Light has influence!

Salt and light are necessary to sustain life. When Christ calls us the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world,” He is calling us–yes, you and me–the active, positive influence on this planet. We are the ones called to display MERCY, GRACE, HOPE, FAITH, PERSISTENCE, FAITHFULNESS, HUMILITY, FORGIVENESS, and WISDOM. As Christians, we are not meant to isolate ourselves from society, but to actively engage with it, bringing positive transformation through the love of the Holy Spirit for all people. The scriptures encourage us to live that way.

Philippians 2:3–4

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Colossians 3:23-24

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

1 Peter 4:10–11

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen

Galatians 5:13–14

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Coming Soon: The Art of the Parable: Part 10 – A Last Look

God bless you as you influence others for His Kingdom on this earth!

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