
No preservatives are the preferred choice of health-conscious people when it comes to food. Preservatives are used to prevent rotting, decompose, germs, and the spreading of bacterias in food. When we think preservatives, we think chemicals. That was not so thousand years ago. When they think preservative, they think salt.
Salt was the main preservative in the time of Jesus. It was used to preserve food as in our time and it was also used on the manure pile. What? They put salt in the manure pile? You bet. Salt was a common pesticide used to prevent germs from spreading in the manure pile. Salt was also mixed with manure to be used as soil amendments or fertilizers.
When Jesus used the term salt, it carries various meanings. First, it adds to the flavor in food and renders manure useful for the ground as in Luke 14. Second, it acts as a
preservative against the spreading of disease, harmful bacteria, and germs.
Believers therefore, are to be active in doing good and at the same time preventing bad in our world.