Background Notes:

The well-known scripture reading (Matthew 5:13-20) where Jesus tells people that they are “like salt for the whole human race” and the “light for the whole world” is the obvious basis for this hymn.  The hymn goes on to explicate this directive (e.g., share our bread) in verse one, but then acknowledges our fear we have in living according to these principles (verse two), our recognition of our own blessings (verse three), and our reassurance for this as a way of life (verse four).  Small word shifts between verses in the otherwise parallel word construction is intended to highlight these concepts as the song is sung.