Christ My Song - 719

Lord! in all I offer thee - The best offerings
(John S. B. Monsell/Johannes Thomas Rüegg)

The best offerings.

Neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing. (2 Samuel 24,24)

1. Lord! in all I offer thee
let this rule and guidance be,
it must cost me loss or pain,
else thou wilt not deem it gain. (PDF - Midi)

2. 'Tis not meet that first my wealth,
time and talents, heart and health,
should be all on self bestowed,
thence to overflow to God.

3. Not the refuse of my field,
nor the worst my flock may yield,
are the offerings I should bring
to the great and glorious King:

4. rather be my gifts supplied
  out of luxuries denied:
out of pleasures, I  m i g h t  take,
  but refuse for Jesus' sake.

5. Angels cannot see in gold
beauty such as men behold,
in their eyes its precious part
is its trial of the heart.

6. O how often it has proved,
whether God or self be loved,
and, when doubtful hung the scale,
turned the beam, and told the tale.

7. Tho' the rich may freely pour
wealth from their abounding store,
time there was, when in God's sight
dearer proved the widow's mite.

8. God alone the value knows
of the gift the hand bestows,
and, tho' he that gift may use,
we the giver's grace may lose.

9. Earth should from her pattern, Heav'n,
take the bright example giv'n,
where, upon God's altar lies
what h e deemed a sacrifice:

10. not the lowest that could show
sympathy with human woe,
but the highest he could give,
his own life that man should live.

11. Lord! let such the model be
of my offerings to thee,
and the spring my heart to move
thine unutterable love.

John S. B. Monsell, 'Spiritual Songs', 1864, 127-128.