What do Mark Zuckerberg, a Brazilian slum child, and you have in common?

Time. Twenty-four hours per day.

There’s one thing we all have in common

Billionaires can’t buy more time, movie stars can’t trade their fame for it, a fancy education or family background doesn’t change the equation. We all have 24 hours, no more, no less.

Time is the one resource God protected from the fall. Every day we spend on earth, we’re each handed the same 24 hours as every other person alive that day. We don’t always have control over how those hours are spent, but God gives us the same portion.

Since God’s fairness is there for all to see in His equal distribution of time, how we use our time must matter deeply to Him. It’s not His character to judge us for what we don’t have, but He will eventually ask us how we used the time we do have.

A reminder on my wrist

I found my watch in a vintage shop. It’s not one my children will be excited to inherit: the band is faded leather, the dial is pretty scratched, the diamond chips are unfashionably small.

The watch isn’t any special to anyone else, but I wear it because it was made in 1957. So was I.  We are both handling our 58th year remarkably well, all things considered.

When I glance at my wrist, my watch reminds me that how I spend my time will be what I hand to God when we meet face to face.  Will I hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” or something more measured, with a tinge of grief?

A generous spirit is reflected in how we spend our treasures and our talents, but most of all, in how we spend our time. When we ask God how He wants us to use each of our 24 hours, the guidance we seek for our other life decisions will follow. It’s about time. How will you use yours?