Dr. Jay A. Quine: God Trusts Us with Our Gifts
Matthew 5:13
"You are the salt of the earth"
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Have you ever tasted a sauce to see what it may need to make it better? I tried out a new recipe the other night on my wife. It was this sweet potato sort of stew thing. We sat down, tasted it. It was good. But there was just something missing...my mind was thinking, “would basal help? a little oregano? maybe rosemary.” But she curtly declared, “ It needs a little salt.”
I never think of salt. Just a little salt, the flavors came alive. Used in the right quantity, in the right way, salt makes things taste better. Salt makes things more attractive to the old taste buds. When the Lord said, “You are the salt of the earth,” He was saying that we should have a certain quality about us that makes Christ’s message attractive. It is through the function of our spiritual gifts that the Gospel can become attractive.
They didn’t have refrigeration in the ancient world as we do today, so they also used salt as a preservative. Salting meat or fish would allow them to be kept longer. When Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth” I believe He was not only saying we are to attract others to Him, but also that we preserve our society through the utilization of our spiritual gifts.
So, we may conclude from this verse:
Active believers preserve their society.
Active believers attract others to the faith.
Jesus also spoke a parable which directly speaks to the use of our spiritual gifts.
Matthew 25:14-15
Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.
Jay Quine's legal experience includes working as deputy prosecuting attorney and municipal court judge in Washington State. Dr. Jay A. Quine has also been in private legal practice focusing on business and corporate law and continues to provide consulting for religious and non-profit organizations concerning legal issues.
Dr. Jay A. Quine received his Masters in 1990 and Ph.D. in 1997 from the Dallas Theological Seminary; J. D. from the University of Idaho College of law in 1983 and his B. S. from Washington State University in 1980.
Dr. Jay A. Quine received his Masters in 1990 and Ph.D. in 1997 from the Dallas Theological Seminary; J. D. from the University of Idaho College of law in 1983 and his B. S. from Washington State University in 1980.
