PEACE PRESERVERS

Salt is good, but if the salt loses its saltiness, with what will you season it?

Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace^G1514 with one another.”

Mark 9:50

John MacArthur discusses salt as a preservative:

9:50 Salt is good. Salt was an essential item in first-century Palestine. In a hot climate, without refrigeration, salt was the practical means of preserving food. Have salt in yourselves. The work of the Word (Col. 3:16) and the Spirit (Gal. 5:22, 23) produce godly character, enabling a person to act as a preservative in society. (41)

Warren Wiersbe also gives perspective on verse 50:

9:50 Have salt in yourselves. The image of salt describes true discipleship. Salt is a preservative. Jesus is telling His disciples to use humility and service to preserve the peace of the church, rather than dividing it through a desire to be great (v. 34). (42)

The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament expounds on the definition of peace as used in this verse:

1514. εἰρηνεύω eirēneúō; fut. eirēneúsō, from eirḗnē (1515), peace. To make peace, be at peace (1 Kgs. 22:44). In the NT metaphorically to live in peace, harmony, accord. Used in an absolute sense in 2 Cor. 13:11. In 1 Thess. 5:13, “be at peace among yourselves”; Mark 9:50, “with each other” (a.t.); Rom. 12:18, “with all.” (43)

When the Holy Spirit grows the Fruit of the Spirt—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—in our lives, He is increasing our saltiness. These Christ-like characteristics serve as a witness to those who do not yet know Jesus; but they also help us to preserve peace within the familyship of God. We are to are to live in harmony with our brothers and sisters in Christ which can only be achieved through humility and willingness to serve each other.

Examine your own attitudes and actions toward other believers. Are you consistently working to preserve peace within the body of Christ? Are there areas where your saltiness may be a bit week? Ask the Lord to show you specific ways to improve your spiritual sodium content by practicing and working to preserve peace in your relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ.

Father, as we study the Fruit of the Spirit, we are seeing how each one builds on the others and that developing these attributes not only improves our relationship with You but also our relationships with others. Please help us to be people who preserve peace and not those who disturb it.