Category: Building Character

Many, many people wanted to hear Jesus speak. He went to the side of a hill and sat down so that everyone could gather around and listen. Then he began to tell them how they could follow God. He told them about heaven. He told them they should be kind to other people even if other people were not kind to them. He told them that they should help poor people and that they should not judge others.

To help people understand something very important, Jesus told them a parable.

Jesus looked at the people and said, “You are the salt of the earth. But if 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 by men.”

What do you think Jesus meant? Do you think he was saying that we are not human, but we are salt instead? Of course not. Jesus was saying something very important, but he was trying to make it simple to understand. He was using the example of salt.

Do you like salt? What does food taste like when there is no salt in it?  When salt is added to some foods they taste much better. God put Christians in this world so that we can make the world better. Are you salt? Do you make this world better?

After Jesus told the people the parable about the salt he told them another parable.

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city 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 men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

What do you think Jesus meant when he said: “You are the light of the world”? Did he mean we are not human but that we are light bulbs? Of course not. He was saying a parable to tell the people something very important.

Many people in this world do not know about God. Jesus said that it is like they are in a very dark place. They need someone to give them some light so that they can see. When Christians obey God then it is like a light is shining. People see Christians doing good things and it makes them want to follow God.

If we do good things, it is like our light is shining. If people never see us do or say good things, then it is like we are putting a big bowl over our light. No one can see a light under a bowl.

Sometimes we get embarrassed or shamed and we don’t want people to know that we are Christians. Has that ever happened to you? If we are ashamed to do good things, then it is like putting our light under a bowl.

How many of you are going to let your light shine this week?

Scripture Reference: Matthew 5:13-16