Our text for today comes from the well-known section of St. Matthew’s gospel which is commonly known as the Sermon on the Mount.
For a start, this is a bit misleading as a title because it was not a sermon in the sense that we understand sermons to be. In fact, Jesus was called rabbi for a particularly good reason. As he went from place to place he did two things. He healed those who needed healing including the casting out of evil spirits, and he taught the people. He was above all a teacher. The writer of the gospel according to Matthew has simply collected as much as could be remembered and found from various sources, the life and work of Jesus and compiled this into a short book which we now know to be the gospel according to Matthew. Many of the things that Jesus is reported as saying here between chapters five and seven of the gospel was not likely to have been said by Jesus all on one occasion in a sermon, but these were instead a compilation of his teachings as I said a little earlier. With this understanding in mind, let me invite us to look at one of the important messages through Jesus’ words to his disciples.
In his teaching, he tells them, “You are the salt of the earth.” And as if to reinforce the concept he repeats the thought by saying this time, “You are the light of the world.” It is immediately obvious to most that salt and light are two vastly different things, but an understanding of Jesus’ thought pattern here will show that it is the purpose or usefulness of these two very distinct things that is the essence of his message. What does salt do and what is the purpose of light? The answer to these tells us exactly what Jesus’ message to those disciples was and consequently what his message to us today is also. By explaining to them how salt can lose its usefulness and how light is to be placed on its lampstand in a room, or how a city on a hill cannot be hidden, Jesus told the disciples exactly what he meant. There was no mystery to be solved or riddle to be deciphered. It was a simple but powerful metaphor to explain what people who are followers of God should be in the world.
I have entitled this message ‘Purpose-driven for God’ simply because this text forces us to reflect on, or in some cases, ask questions such as, what is my purpose? Why am I here? What value do I give to the world, to this life by my very existence? This may sound philosophical, but it is the question that many people do ask especially when times are tough, when things are not going the way they planned, when they feel beaten up by life’s experiences or they feel deeply unappreciated and undervalued by society at large. Sadly, and tragically, these are the types of questions that some people ask themselves before taking their own lives as they feel unworthy of life itself or they have come to the point of feeling that life has become too useless to continue.
In the Oxford online dictionary that I used, the word purpose means, “the reason for which something is done or created” and also “for which something exists.” Obviously, inanimate things such as pots and pans and vehicles have a purpose. Salt and light also have their purpose and most importantly for life itself, so too do humans and animals.
Being driven by something speaks to the idea of motive or compulsion. The person who is driven by some idea or reason is someone who is steadfastly focused and committed to that idea or purpose. You can see now how the concept of being purpose-driven falls into place.
All of us were born for a reason. Our existence is not accidental. We are all here to make a vital contribution to this life. The difficulty for many though, is finding out what exactly that purpose is. Most people see their purpose in what they can do best or what they find most fulfilling in life. For some people, living out their purpose is about advancing themselves in this life. In principle, nothing is wrong with this view at all unless it becomes wholly selfish and self-absorbed. Contrary to this, other people feel that their purpose is to serve others and to be philanthropic. In the end, many people never truly live out their purpose according to God’s will for their lives. What then does it mean to be purpose-driven for God.
Let us go back to salt and light for a minute because if we reflect on their purpose for existing more closely, we can see how we should define our own purpose or reason for being or for existing, more clearly. I think that most of us know what salt is used for, even if we aren’t quite knowledgeable of its chemical composition. We know what the two primary purposes of salt are. First it is used as seasoning to give flavor especially to things we consume. Secondly, it is used as a preservative for some foods and other things that we need to keep over an extended period without them being spoiled. We know that there are other methods of preserving things today. In Jesus’ day the salt that they had available to them included other compounds that could break down or be eroded and thereby compromise the effect of the salt, hence the salt losing its saltiness. Light was generally from torches for external use or lamps for internal use such as in homes and important buildings such as the synagogue or temple.
The two things, though vastly different, are highlighted by Jesus because they both stand out and they both make a difference to all who utilize them, whether in cooking or preserving or in utilizing the light that is given to see at night or in dark places.
Being salt and light then means that we must stand out and be seen to be different and we must make a difference in the world. This is what it means to be purpose-driven for God. Salt will always stand out if it is used properly when it is required. If it is not used correctly as a preservative the product can be compromised. In the same way, light can be noticeably missed in a dark room or space. Light helps us to be aware of our surroundings thus keeping us from potentially dangerous or unhealthy situations and experiences.
As Christians, we are expected to be salt and light in our respective contexts and life experiences because we must be noticeable wherever we are. Our effect in our world must be obvious and of course transformative. People must know that you are a Christian because your worldview is guided by a different set of standards and principles from everybody else and it must also be demonstrated in such a way that it is infectious. This means that other people will be attracted to who you are and want to adopt your principles. We are told in the gospel that by living according to godly principles your work will give praise and honor to God. (See St. Matthew 5: 16) This is what makes one’s life purpose-driven by God. It is the recognition that our lives can have only one true purpose. We exist on this earth for one thing only and that is to shine our lights so that others can see us and glorify or give praise to God alone, not to us. We are only to be reflections of who God is and as such our actions and our gifts, however we choose or get to use them, must be used to lead others to God who gave us this life in the first place.
If we have this mindset deeply riveted in us then whatever we do in this life will serve to be purpose-driven. We will always be infinitely aware that all our gifts and talents are to be used not primarily for our personal benefit, as important as that may seem to us, but all our gifts and abilities must be used to show to others the goodness and love of God. We are all therefore to be in some way a vessel or an instrument in this world of God’s goodness and grace to all humanity. That must be our only true purpose in this world. The person who recognizes this will stand out or will be seen to be different, not because he or she is better than everyone else or above everyone else, but because that person will be seen as God’s true light in the world. That person will be truly the “salt of the earth”.
In closing, I must make one more point. You may notice in reading the text that it says that if the salt loses its saltiness then it is no longer good for anything and must be thrown out. One could similarly say that a lamp that can no longer give good light is likely to be either repaired if that is possible or it too might be discarded. We must all see this as a warning. It really doesn’t matter what occupation you are pursuing in this life or what gift you have to give to the world. What is important is the motive or mindset that you take to your daily life. Do you see yourself as irreplaceable? Do you see yourself as fulfilling a God-given calling? Your thinking must be humbled by the fact that you recognize that it in whatever you do you must do it to the glory of God, because if you make it all about you then your life will be unfulfilled even if you accomplish great things according to human standards. When we live our lives only for our personal benefit and maybe for family and close friends, then you really will only be worthy to be thrown out and trampled underfoot because such a life is not reflecting God’s will for you. You are not giving light to the world or being the salt of the earth in the way that God desires of you.
As we meet this afternoon, every one of us must ask some important questions of our Lord. How dear God, will I fulfill the tasks that you have given me? How will I make a difference for your sake alone? How will my purpose as your representative in this congregation be realized in the world?
Hopefully, these thoughts will guide each of us as we share with each other and hear from God this afternoon.
Hopefully too, as we leave worship in this sanctuary we will reflect on how we have lived our lives thus far, recognizing the fact that our purpose is not just fulfilling our life’s ambitions but in serving God. We are duty-bound by God himself to be seen to be different from the world and thus make a difference in whatever area of life we find ourselves or whatever field of endeavor we may pursue. Let God have the honor and the glory in your life, however long or short, however much you accomplish or not in the span of time you have. Do it so that others will see you and glorify your Father in heaven. That is how you lead a purpose-driven life. That is how you will become the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Go out sisters and brothers and be salt that is effective and light that reflects your God to the world at large. Amen.