Which do you prefer, savory or sweet food? For your snack choices do you go with potato chips, Cheetos, ranch dressing for celery and carrots, pickles, etc? Or do you have a sweet tooth with cookies, candy, brownies, toffee, caramel corn, or anything sugary to catch your fancy? It’s also possible that you like the combination of sweet and savory, such that you enjoy chicken and waffles, salted nut rolls, salted caramel hot chocolate, and maybe you like bread and butter pickles.
I’m grateful that God is so infinitely creative, helping us to enjoy beauty, flavors, sounds and sights across an infinite array of experiences. If you like savory food, there are heaps of choices for you! If you prefer sweet treats, there’s also no shortage of options for these taste buds.
As it relates to these ideas of sweet and savory, the Bible has some interesting things to say about the importance of each flavor or fragrance profile. On the sweet side, here are some interesting verses for your consideration:
2 Cor 2:14-15, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. 15 For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”
Psalm 119:103, “How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
Prov 16:24, “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”
On the savory side, these verses are worth some reflection:
Matt 5:13, ““You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”
Col 4:6, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”
Mark 9:50, “’Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.’”
It’s interesting to think about the importance and value of both sweet and savory.
As the Bible says, sweet is pleasing and appealing. There’s a definite attraction when we think about sweet stuff and we would be wise to consider the sweetness of God and His irresistible appeal. In this line of thinking, it can remind us from Romans 2:4 that, “the goodness of God can lead to repentance.” And God’s sweetness can be an elixir to our souls.
On the other side, in relation to salt and savory, let’s keep in mind that there’s good value in being salty. On the practical side, salt is a preservative, flavor enhancer, and basic nutrient. As for our lives being salty, let’s remember that with God’s help, we can add flavor, preservation, and distinction in a tasteless world of vapid conversation. Furthermore, it’s interesting to consider that when we have salt in ourselves, referencing Mark 9:50, it can help us to have peace with one another.
As we finish this blog, let’s be aware that some conversations and people would find sweetness and grace to be very helpful. Let’s also remember that some occasions and conversations could use some salt and a little conversation zest or a different flavor than sweet and sugary.
