Today is a special day in our home—our daughter Tabitha’s birthday. It feels surreal to say this, but she has now been in our lives for a whole decade. Ten years! It honestly feels like just yesterday when my wife and I were courting, dreaming about the children we would one day have. And now, our firstborn has reached this milestone, reminding me once again that time waits for no one.

This birthday has brought a deep reflection on the nature of time. Time is one of the greatest gifts God has given us, yet it is also one of the most easily wasted. When Tabitha was born, we poured into her—reading to her, teaching her, ensuring she was always surrounded by learning, love, and ambition. And we have seen the results. She is competitive, driven, and excels in whatever she puts her mind to. Sometimes, when I say she is too competitive, my wife reminds me: We built her to win—so why would we dampen the fire we intentionally started?

That statement alone contains so much truth. Time is a builder. If you consistently work at something—day by day, step by step—it takes the shape of the discipline and effort invested in it. This is something I have come to understand more deeply over the years. Looking at Tabitha now, I see a reflection of what consistency and intentionality can produce over time.

But this reflection has also made me think about the greater lesson on time—how we use it, how we waste it, and the discipline required to make the most of it. The Bible speaks extensively about time, and today, I want to share some lessons that I believe are crucial for us all.

Time in the Bible: The Wise and the Wasteful

One of the clearest biblical figures who used time wisely is Joseph. His story is a testament to perseverance, vision, and long-term discipline. Joseph was a dreamer, but his dreams didn’t come to pass overnight. From being sold into slavery to rising as the second-most powerful man in Egypt, his journey took thirteen years before he saw the fulfilment of his vision. He did not waste time complaining or being idle—he worked diligently, remained faithful, and maximised every season of his life, even the difficult ones.

On the other hand, we have Esau, who wasted his opportunity for a greater future by trading his birthright for a bowl of stew (Genesis 25:29-34). In a moment of shortsightedness, he sacrificed something of lifelong significance for immediate gratification. This is the danger of not valuing time and the opportunities it presents. He did not think long-term, and he lived to regret that choice.

Both these men had the same 24 hours in a day—just like us. But the way they used their time determined their destiny.

The Power of Daily Discipline

One of the greatest lessons I have learned—both from raising a child and from ministry—is that consistency compounds over time. Many of us look at successful people and admire their achievements, but what we often fail to see is the daily discipline that built them.

The Bible says in Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

That phrase “at the proper time” speaks volumes. There is a set time for harvest, but only for those who have sown and remained patient in the process.

I love how D.L. Moody once put it: “Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at something that doesn’t really matter.”

How are we using our time? Are we investing it in things that will matter a decade from now? A lifetime from now? Or are we just moving through the motions, filling our days with distractions, neglecting the things that truly shape us?

The Urgency of Now: A Word to the Young

To the young, I want to say this clearly—your now matters. It may seem like you have all the time in the world, but the reality is that time moves quicker than you think. How you spend your time now will shape who you become later.

If you cultivate discipline now, it will serve you well in the future. If you spend your time in idleness, you will one day wish you had done more with the years that passed.

Ecclesiastes 12:1 says: “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come.”

The habits you form, the skills you develop, the wisdom you seek—it all matters. I see this clearly in Tabitha. She has been shaped by what she has seen—our ambition, our work, our discipline. And it reminds me that children are watching. They are taking in more than we realise.

Conclusion: The Greatest Use of Time

At the end of the day, the greatest use of our time is in fulfilling the purpose for which God created us. We all have the same 24 hours in a day, but what we do with them determines everything.

Jonathan Edwards once prayed: “Lord, stamp eternity on my eyeballs.” That is my prayer for us all—that we would see time through the lens of eternity and not waste a single moment.

So today, as I celebrate my daughter’s birthday, I am reminded that time is both a gift and a responsibility. We must use it wisely, invest it intentionally, and guard it diligently. One day, we will look back and see the fruits of what we sowed.

May we all be found faithful in the way we use our time.