Hymn/Song Information

A HANDFUL OF LEAVES

What! sitting at ease when
there’s work to be done!
The best of the day
half its circuit has run;
Yon orb to its zenith
rides forth in the sky;
What! sitting at ease
and the harvest so nigh!

Oh, look on the fields,
that already are white;
The Lord hath commanded
to work in the light;
Beware lest, instead
of the bright, golden sheaves,
We bring to Him only
a handful of leaves.

What! sitting at ease,
leaving others the toil
Of training the vineyard
and tilling the soil;
This truth in our mind
let us constantly keep,
From seed what we scatter
the fruit we shall reap.

Oh, look on the fields,
that already are white;
The Lord hath commanded
to work in the light;
Beware lest, instead
of the bright, golden sheaves,
We bring to Him only
a handful of leaves.

What! sitting at ease,
when a burden of care
Our brother has borne
we might help him to bear;
Oh, let us be earnest,
and work while we may,
The Master is calling,
arise and away.

Oh, look on the fields,
that already are white;
The Lord hath commanded
to work in the light;
Beware lest, instead
of the bright, golden sheaves,
We bring to Him only
a handful of leaves.

No longer at ease
we are folding our hands,
But, willing to do what
the Savior commands,
We’ll work till the harvest,
then gather the sheaves,
And bring to Him more
than a handful of leaves.

Oh, look on the fields,
that already are white;
The Lord hath commanded
to work in the light;
Beware lest, instead
of the bright, golden sheaves,
We bring to Him only
a handful of leaves.