I realized something about Jesus. He looks at a crowd of ordinary people—fishermen, tax collectors, and weary souls—and tells them something radical: “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.” Notice He doesn’t say you might be, or you should be if you work hard enough. He says you are. You are! You are the ones who give this world its flavor. You are the ones who preserve it from rotting into total despair. The world is a better place because of your presence, your kindness, and your simple faithfulness. Yes. Think about how he empowered the simple and the powerless.
But we live in a world obsessed with “projecting power.” We are surrounded by people who think that wealth, abundance, and authoritarian strength are the markers of success. They build monuments to their own egos and use fear to control those around them. But Jesus warns us: if the salt loses its flavor, it is good for nothing. And what is the “flavor” of a Christian? It is humility.
Why did Jesus come to us as a helpless babe in a manger? Why was He born to a poor family in an overlooked village?
If God had arrived with thunder, lightning, and overwhelming celestial glory, we would have been paralyzed by terror, not moved by love. We wouldn’t recognize Him as a Father; we would see Him only as a Dictator. God is not shy about being poor. God is not worried about being simple. Our God does not boast about being “wealthy” or “successful” by human standards.
We follow a God who, in the eyes of the world, “failed.” He suffered. He struggled. He had no place to lay His head. This was not an accident; it was a choice. Jesus came down to our level because that is the only way we could ever truly understand the heart of the Father.
Anytime you see someone pretending to be untouchable, powerful, or superior, know this: They are faking it. Throughout His life, people tried to get Jesus to “project” power. Herod wanted a magic show. Pilate tried to intimidate Him with the state’s authority. Even His own disciples tried to talk Him into a worldly kingship. Jesus resisted every single time. Even on the Cross, when they mocked Him saying, “If you are the Son of God, come down,” He stayed.
That is what real power looks like. It is the power to stay humble when you have the right to be proud. It is the power to be simple when you have the means to be flashy.
Fake powers—those built on narcissism and bullying—always fail. They are eventually caught, exposed, and brought to justice because they have no foundation. As Jesus told Pilate, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above.” True authority doesn’t need to shout; fake authority never stops shouting.
I cannot “relax” the commandments of Jesus to make them more comfortable for our modern egos. Jesus is clear. Anyone who tries to water down these truths or teaches others to ignore the “least of these” will be called least in the Kingdom.
I cannot save someone from the consequences of their own prideful stupidity. I cannot condone a mistake as “truth” just to be polite.
We are called to a higher standard—the standard of the salt. To be salt, we must be lowly. To be light, we must be transparent so that His glory shows, not ours.
So, here are some practical suggestions. May be useful, may be not. But at least something for us to do and live into the call.
To live a truly spiritual life, we must stop pretending. Here is how we practice the humility of Christ in a world of “fake” power:
Practice “Downward Mobility”: Instead of asking how you can get ahead, ask who you can get beside. Seek out the person in your neighborhood or workplace who is being ignored and sit with them.
Speak Truth without Posturing: You don’t need to be loud to be right. Like Jesus before Pilate, let your character be your defense. Avoid the “boasting” culture of social media.
Audit Your “Strongholds”: Are you trusting in your bank account, your status, or your political “team” for security? If so, you are leaning on fake power. Repent and return to the Lord as your only stronghold.
Value Simplicity over Success: Intentionally choose the simpler path once a week. Whether it’s where you eat, what you buy, or how you spend your time, prove to yourself that you don’t need “wealth and abundance” to be the light of the world.
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