I spread the rich, chocolaty spread on our homemade toast and swirled it together with peanut butter. Today my girls were getting a special treat: Nutella and peanut butter sandwiches for lunch! You’d think that I had promised them a trip to the moon with their exclamations of utter joy and happy dances, and I laughed as I placed the sandwiches in their travel containers for our trip to the park.

I love my girls more than life itself, but that doesn’t mean that I feed them Nutella every day. In fact, it is because I love them that I offer them healthier options most of the time, making treats more special for us all.

 Sorry, Folks – Not Everyone is Going to Like You!

Sometimes I think that we as American Christians want to be like a jar of Nutella to others. We want to be sweet, smooth, and instantly loved by all, but not necessarily nourishing, challenging, or life-giving. We may want people to do a perpetual “happy dance” around our lives without considering the truth that Jesus did not die simply to make us sweet, fun, always-likable people.

Jesus didn’t promise us a “most popular award” when we chose to follow Him. Instead He said, “You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 10:22). Jesus gives us the reason for this unpopularity that may come our way in John 15:18-20 : “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.“

This doesn’t mean we are supposed to go around being obnoxious and making people hate us. Quite the contrary. The apostle Paul said, “Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings” (1 Corinthians 9:22-23). This means that we go above and beyond to relate to others not simply that we may be liked or accepted by them, but so that we do not become a stumbling block for others coming to know Christ.

Salt and Light, Not Necessarily Nutella 🙂

Christ’s promise that we will “be hated by all” verifies that Christ divides. In fact, His life was the biggest stumbling block to His very own people and community. When you choose to follow Christ and live by the truth of His Word, there will be people who don’t like it and may not be your friend because of it, regardless of what you try to do to reach out to them or show them love.

Here’s the bottom line: It’s not your job to get people to like you. It’s your job to follow Christ, to love Him even above your own reputation, and to love others in a sincere and even self-sacrificing way.

Following Christ means you can’t just go with the status quo and accept every perspective or worldview out there.

Following Christ will cost you something. It may cost you everything. This is proven by the early church, most of whom gave up their lives for the sake of the Gospel.

As Christians, we are called to be salt and light. Not a jar of Nutella. While Nutella is sweet and tasty, let’s not kid ourselves – it’s not necessary for life and definitely isn’t at the bottom of the food pyramid 🙂

Salt, on the other hand, seasons and preserves, brings out the best flavors, and also stings when it is placed in an open wound before it brings healing.

Light warms, causes growth, produces energy and life. However, it also exposes the dust on my mantle and the deeds that are done in darkness.

If you are living a normal Christian life, you’ll do all these things – season, preserve, and cause growth and life to spring up as well as sting and expose when it’s necessary.

No, you’re not going to make everyone happy – you’re not a jar of Nutella. But you can be something much greater…a salty, light-bearing lover of Christ. While one may bring the temporary satisfaction of people’s praises and acceptance, the other will bring eternal blessings and fulfillment.