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. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:13-16
“Mr. Wirt: How can we foster the encounter of people with Jesus Christ?
C.S. Lewis: You can’t lay down any pattern for God. There are many different ways of bringing people into His Kingdom, even some ways that I specially dislike! I have therefore learned to be cautious in my judgment. But we can block it in many ways. As Christians we are tempted to make unnecessary concessions to those outside the faith.
We give in too much. Now, I don’t mean that we should run the risk of making a nuisance of ourselves by witnessing at improper times, but there comes a time when we must show that we disagree. We must show our Christian colours, if we are to be true to Jesus Christ. We cannot remain silent or concede everything away.
C.S. Lewis in “Cross Examination,” in God in the Dock (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998) 262.
Generosity in a world filled with trouble is being salt and light. It’s being useful. People should see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. Notice the Scripture does not say, people will hear our good words.
With Lewis, I think we must avoid “making a nuisance of ourselves.” We do this when our words and works don’t match. Generosity is showing our Christian colours and remaining true to Jesus Christ. We need to remind ourselves that He is watching!
Generosity is helping people encounter Jesus in a manner that is humble and beautiful. It does not remain silent and does not concede everything as morality declines. Instead, it does intentional activities that point people to God.
This comes into view not as telling people what is right and wrong but showing them what is right. To do this at the proper times means to respond when asked. We don’t push our faith on others. Generosity is living rightly and sharing readily.
Rather than sitting around and talking about how bad things are, what if you used what you have for good. Then, when asked, tell people why you are doing it and invite them to join you. Allow your saltiness and shining to point people to the Father in dark times.