THE BROOM INCIDENT
Today I want to talk to you about being salty. I, myself, used to be pretty salty by the world’s definition. I remember a time when I was having a super bad day and I had to go pick up a prescription at the pharmacy. When I approached the counter the young girl working there was also having a bad day and couldn’t find my order on the computer.
I could feel the annoyance well up within me and explained behind clinched teeth that the doctor called it in at least an hour ago. I was forced to shop around the department store while I waited for the pharmacy and the doctor to connect. Consequently, I needed a broom and a few other items which I grabbed while I was waiting. Thankfully, they eventually found the order so I was able to check out and be on my way. As I was headed to my car, I looked into the bag and saw that there was no prescription to be found.
I was so annoyed that I stormed back into the store, while shaking a straw broom, and yelled at a completely confused pharmacist that swore it was in the bag. Everyone around me was alarmed. I had totally lost my cool. As me and my broom went stomping back to my car, some sweet old lady was calling me from behind asking if I dropped something. It was my prescription! I must have accidentally dropped it when I was rummaging through the bag.
As you can imagine, I felt horrible. I was salty and rude to so many people in the store. I spread my terrible attitude to the poor pharmacist and probably a few others that day. This is NOT the kind of saltiness that Jesus is talking about in the Bible. In Matthew 5:16, Jesus said “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” I did the opposite that day.
PILLAR OF SALT
I don’t think Jesus is talking about Lot’s wife either. Don’t you find it odd that Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt? Corruption and perversion had seized the hearts of those living in Sodom and the surrounding towns. Because of their lusts and wickedness, God responded with a downpour of flaming sulfur.
Then the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah — from the Lord out of the heavens. Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, destroying all those living in the cities — and also the vegetation in the land. But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. Genesis 19:24-26 NIV
Was Lot’s wife lagging behind because of her sadness of leaving her dysfunctional lifestyle? Was she hit by a chemical blast from the sulfur that caused her to turn into salt? And why salt? Why not a stone statue? Or simply death?
Though we may not have all the answers, it seems fitting to look at the divine symbolism. In the Bible (and historically) salt is referred to as a preservative. And pillar, in this case, was referred to as a marker or a fixed place (H5333). We don’t even get to know the name of Lot’s wife. But what is known about her is that she looked back. This Hebrew word is nabat (5027) and can be translated as regarding with pleasure, favor or care.
This leads us to believe that her heart was not right. Even as she was being rescued from destruction, she still longingly looked back at a sinful lifestyle. Perhaps this pillar of salt was a reminder that we are to preserve what God has said in His word, living rightly with Him as our guide and our rescuer. Not longingly looking back at our sinful past from which we were rescued.
SALT OF THE EARTH
Salt is mentioned a lot in the scriptures. In the sermon on the mount, Jesus refers to His followers as the salt of 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. Matthew 5:13 NIV
How in the world does salt lose it saltines? This word for ‘lost its taste’ is actually the Greek word moraino (G3471), which can be translated to mean, being or acting foolish, to make foolish or to make tasteless. When referring to salt, it can mean it lost its strength or flavor. Interestingly, it’s the same word for ‘fool’ in Romans 1:22, which says:
Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools. Romans 1:22 NIV
Perhaps this is a little nugget of wisdom, reminding us to be diligent in preserving what God has told us and not act as a fool. The last thing we would want is to be useless salt. There would be no reason to keep salt if it wasn’t effective. So let us not be foolish or lacking in strength.
SALTY WISDOM
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6 NIV
When we study the scriptures, we see that Jesus wants us to stand firm (Ephesians 6) and to speak truth (Ephesians 4:15), but to do it in love. Being seasoned with salt is a reminder that we should always come from a place of love, wisdom and sometimes creativity. It’s good to bring a little flavor to the conversation. But we can’t forget to be patient, kind and respectful as well. This kind of approach will help us to reach those who don’t know the Lord, even if they are being harsh or hateful towards us.
When we spend enough time with Jesus we are able to understand His character and His heart. By doing this, we also are ready to share the good news with others. We should be ready in season and out of season. That is why it’s crucial to have a close relationship with the Lord. So rejoice that we are the salt of the earth. Let’s make the earth inhospitable for sin!
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 2 Timothy 4:1-2
SALTY CHRISTIANS
Salt inhibits bacterial growth in food and, as a result, is a very effective preservation tool. In a similar way, we Christians are to have an everlasting, positive affect by our presence and our interactions with people. We are to spread love, not bitterness and frustration (while shaking a broom in someone’s face). God’s truth and love preserves an otherwise decaying society. Christians, like salt, should make sin inhospitable wherever we go. Our goal is to bless others with the knowledge of Christ and His great love for all people, not wanting any to perish (2 Peter 3:9).
Let us be sprinkled throughout our communities bringing hope, truth, peace and love. As a result, preserving what Jesus proclaimed as truth, providing the full gospel for all to hear who are willing to listen. These things will strengthen us so that we can continue to be like salt and not look back!
Resources
https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5027.htm
Nabat 5027 (to look back)
- to scan, i.e. look intently at
- (by implication) to regard with pleasure, favor or care
Strong’s Hebrew: 5333. נְצִיב (netsib) — garrisons, garrison, deputyzzz
Netsib 5333 (pillar)
something stationary, i.e. a prefect, a military post, a statue
https://biblehub.com/greek/3471.htm
Moraino 3471 (to become tasteless)
To make foolish, to become foolish, to lose savor
Salt in Food Preservation – Maintaining Freshness and Quality, September 15, 2025
https://www.ittefaqsalt.com/salt-in-food-preservation/
Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com
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