Good For Nothing

by R. Darke, Vancouver, B.C. | Category: General | Jul 1966

This remarkable expression is used by the Lord Jesus to describe salt which has lost its savour (Matthew 5.13). It takes on added importance when we realize that the Lord was speaking to disciples when He said, "Ye are the salt of the earth", and "have salt in yourselves" (Mark 9.50). Salt is good, and its valuable qualities would teach us what we should be in this world. For example, salt purifies, and prevents corruption. We should speak with soundness and with grace, so that our words will have a lasting effect on our hearers. Our lives should have the effect of curbing the corrupting influences which surround us.

What of salt that is tasteless and useless because it has lost its savour? It cannot be used for anything. Some foods are discarded by man as being useless as food because of contamination or corruption, but they can, at least, be converted into fertilizer; but not so with savourless salt: "it is thenceforth good for nothing". What lesson is the Lord teaching us here? Is He referring to those periods of discouragement and failure in service which make the Christian feel at the time that he is good for nothing? We think not, but a typical example of the truth He is conveying might be seen in the decision of Demas, Paul's co-worker, to exchange the joys of service in the house of God for the pleasures of the world. Here was a man whose name was nobly linked with faithful men such as Epaphras, Mark, Aristarchus, and Luke (Philemon v.23). He was a fellow-prisoner with Paul, and these others, who in God's sight were indeed "the salt of the earth". What an honour to be named with such! But there was a decline in the steadfastness of Demas. In writing to Philemon, Paul speaks of Demas as a fellowworker, but the salt was gradually losing its savour. Finally, Paul, writing to Timothy, penned with sadness these words: "Demas forsook me, having loved this present world" (2 Timothy 4.10). The salt, by now, had completely lost its savour, and a good man had become "good for nothing".

One meaning of Demas's name is "popular", and popularity is one of the devil's snares to draw Christians away from their Saviour and His service, into the world. Let us not put ourselves in a position of compromise whereby we are hailed as fellows by the world, or be in places where we might be tempted to become "the life and soul of the party". Compromise in a small way can lead to involvements which might find us warming ourselves by the world's fire. When we read that Demas "loved" the world it means that he loved it much; he had a deep affection for it. Is it possible that he had often exhorted the saints to "love not the world" and to remain steadfast? And now we find him loving the world and forsaking Paul. Is there any story that causes greater grief than that of a Christian who loses his testimony, that it should be said of him that he is "good for nothing"? How watchful we need to be! How earnestly we should pray to the Lord to keep us healthy spiritually! that we might not love the world, but rather that our lives might have a purifying and antiseptic quality in the world. Let us shun popularity, lest we fall into the error of Demas and Absalom. Let us choose rather to be loyal to the despised Man of Calvary, going forth unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach. Let us remember, too, that in our dealings with one another, our words should be with grace seasoned with salt. Such words will have a lasting effect and accomplish far more than anger. "Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace one with another" (Mark 9.50).

R. Darke, Vancouver, B.C. | Jul 1966
General