Have you ever heard someone use the old adage, “He is not worth his salt?”
We say these things to indicate we don’t think the person we refer to is worthy of their position in the workforce or that they are just plain lazy and unproductive.
This term evolved in ancient Rome. Salt was a valuable commodity, and sometimes soldiers were paid with salt. This is where the word salary came from. Much like today, if we don’t perform, we may lose positions or raises. The soldiers who didn’t perform satisfactorily weren’t “worth their salt.”
Today, we still use the term “worthy” to mean we earned something. Because of our secular use of this word, we also have these meanings embedded in our minds regarding spiritual matters. But living worthy of the Lord doesn’t mean we earn His favor.
Our service should reflect the character of our heavenly Father. We need to be aware that we don’t make our responsibilities an idol or start to think of them as a way to earn His grace. We are saved only by the faith we place in Christ’s finished work.
Paul told the Colossians, “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:9-10 NIV)
The word worthy in these Scriptures was translated from the Greek word Axios, which means appropriately, as becomes after a godly sort; deserving, comparable, suitable, as if drawing praise.
This way, we see that being worthy doesn’t mean we must earn our standing with God. Our salvation is a gift because of Jesus’ sacrifice. We accept this blessing by faith. Because of His love and grace, we want to act in a way that follows the Lord’s standards and positively affects His kingdom.
Paul indicated to the Ephesians the same thing he told the Colossians when he said, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (Ephesians 4:1)
And to the Thessalonians, he said, “Encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.” (1 Thessalonians 2:12)
Paul’s life showed the world who Jesus was. This apostle’s life displayed the difference between holy and fleshly living. Because of his dedication to Christ, Paul could confidently tell others to “follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1-2).
In the Colossians Scriptures mentioned above, we find five ways to fulfill Paul's goal of living a life worthy of the Lord.
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1. Ask for Wisdom (Colossians 1:9)
1. Ask for Wisdom (Colossians 1:9)
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives. (Colossians 1:9)
Each day, we face issues that require us to make decisions. Sometimes, these decisions must be made in a matter of minutes. Our soul's stability depends upon having supernatural discernment that can only be obtained by receiving this attribute through prayer and faith. James 1:6-8 tells us if we ask for wisdom, the Spirit gives it to us. If we doubt His willingness to provide, we are like a ship blown about upon the sea. We are double-minded.
Jesus told His disciples (including us) that when we are faced with situations and don’t know how to answer someone who challenges us, we must depend upon the Holy Spirit. The answer will be given to us if we trust and listen to Him (Luke 12:11-12). We can live in righteousness because we are wise in His ways.
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2. Please Him in Every Way (Colossians 1:10)
2. Please Him in Every Way (Colossians 1:10)
So that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10)
Our acts of service are a way to worship the Savior. The deeds we accomplish help build up the Church. 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 tells us we each have a part to play in fulfilling the will of God. We may be a finger or a nose in the body. If we complain and exhibit envy toward others because their part in the body is different from ours, we can grieve the Spirit.
Jesus' sacrifice gives us such excellent benefits. We not only inherit eternal life, but we also receive His power to overcome temptation, to be joyful in all circumstances, to be healed in our bodies and minds, and to have peace and prosperity in every avenue of our existence. A life that reflects the gifts we have received will please Him in every way and can draw others to seek the Savior.
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3. Bear Fruit in Every Good Work (Colossians 1:10)
3. Bear Fruit in Every Good Work (Colossians 1:10)
So that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10)
We can glorify God in everything, big and small. We may feel some acts are insignificant, but we can bear fruit if we obey Him where He has called us. Do you work in the nursery at church, as an usher, or as a parking attendant? Do you clean the building? Do you visit the sick and elderly? Are you a stay-at-home mom?
If this is what God has called you to do, you are just as important to His plan as the preacher behind the pulpit or the missionary on the field. If no one fulfilled these positions, many people's needs would go unmet. We all have a place to serve in the body of Christ. Bearing fruit in every good work can draw others to know the Savior when they see our faithful service and positive attitudes.
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4. Grow in the Knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10)
4. Grow in the Knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10)
So that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10)
We will never find the end of understanding our infinite Creator, but the pursuit will bring us closer to Him. We can be more like Jesus in every accomplishment. The more we perceive the Father's will, the more our daily activities can be an admirable reflection of Him. We grow in this intimacy through time in the Word.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that Scripture is useful for teaching and training so we can be equipped for every good work. Hosea 4:6 says that we perish because of lack of knowledge. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit so we can fulfill His will on the earth, and so we won’t be deceived by the bait of Satan’s schemes. We can recognize deceit when we know the truth.
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5. Give Joyful Thanks (Colossians 1:12)
5. Give Joyful Thanks (Colossians 1:12)
and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. (Colossians 1:12)
The Psalms contain many commands to give thanks to the Lord. Gratitude takes our minds off ourselves and our problems and places them on the only One who deserves our worship. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to be thankful in all circumstances, but this doesn’t mean we are to give thanks for everything.
We can offer thanks no matter what we go through because Christ conquered the enemy that comes against us. He is the answer to everything we face. When we follow Philippians 4:8, we can always find plenty to offer thanks for. Pondering how much we are forgiven and the inheritance we have obtained will fill our hearts with incomparable gratitude.
We Have Been Rescued from Darkness
The message to the church in Colossae continues with Paul reminding the readers of his letter of their new identity. These Christians were once worshippers of multiple gods. The concept of a Savior who would give His life instead of theirs was incomprehensible to Greek philosophy. Conducting themselves according to the principles of this new relationship was the opposite of what they had been previously taught.
Of course, we know these epistles were meant for all believers, not just the ones in the first century. The scrolls were preserved for over two millennia to give us insight into the identity Christ bestows upon us at salvation. Behaving worthy of the Lord is as essential today as it was in biblical times. Our cultural and societal challenges may differ from theirs, but the evil influences behind them are the same.
The temptation to compromise our values and follow the world system still prevails. We can overcome this lure of the flesh by being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might (Colossians 1:11). We can only do this by abiding in the presence of Jesus as He instructed disciples to do (John 1:4). Without Him, we can do nothing. The power to resist temptation and carnal actions comes from being filled with the fruit of the Spirit.
We have been rescued from the dominion of darkness. We are no longer citizens of the fallen domain; we are members of the kingdom of the Son (Colossians 1:13).
Our human minds can't grasp the honor of walking worthy of this heavenly realm. Knowing we have redemption through His blood and the forgiveness of sins will empower us to take every step in this walk of life in a manner that honors the Lord.
We can be "worth our salt" in the body of Christ. Not because we work to earn His favor but because we work to reflect His love and grace to others.
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Originally published March 10, 2025.
