Composer: William W. How; Lowell Mason
1 We give thee but thine own,
whate'er the gift may be;
all that we have is thine alone,
a trust, O Lord, from thee.
2 May we thy bounties thus
as stewards true receive
and gladly, as thou blessest us,
to thee our first fruits give.
3 O hearts are bruised and dead,
and homes are bare and cold
And lambs for whom the Shepherd bled,
are straying from the fold.
4 To comfort and to bless,
to find a balm for woe
To tend the lone and fatherless,
is Angels' work below.
5 The captive to release,
to God the lost to bring
To teach the way of life and peace,
it is a Christ-like thing.
6 And we believe Thy Word,
though dim our faith may be
Whate'er for Thine we do,
O Lord, we do it unto Thee
Story behind the song:
"We Give Thee But Thine Own" (#670 in Songs for Worship) is a song that highlights the importance and benefits of giving to the Lord. The author, William Walsham How, was born in Shrewsbury, England on December 13, 1823, and was educated at Wadham College, Oxford. He became a minister in the Anglican Church in 1845 and served in various locations throughout his career. How wrote this hymn around 1858 while in Oswestry. The hymn consists of six stanzas and was first published in 1864. How was known for his work among the poverty-stricken east London slums and was called the "Poor Man's Bishop." He authored over fifty hymns, including "O Word of God Incarnate" and "For All The Saints." The composer of the tune, Schumann, is attributed to Robert Alexander Schumann, a German romantic composer. The hymn emphasizes the need to give to the Lord, recognizing that everything we have is a trust from Him. It also emphasizes stewardship and the blessings that come from giving. The hymn encourages us to give to comfort and bless others, to teach the truth to those captive to sin, and to see our acts of service as gifts to the Lord. Overall, the hymn reminds us of the importance of giving to the Lord and the spiritual significance behind our actions.