Work and Wait

Representative Text

1 O Christian, idle all the day!
'Tis not enough to wait and pray;
The time is short, the labor great,
O work for Jesus while you wait.

Chorus:
Work and wait, work and wait,
Eternity of rest is near.
The time is short, the labor great,
O work and wait till Christ appear,
O, work and wait till Christ appear.

2 O, stand not idly waiting by
When sounds abroad the harvest cry!
Go forth into the ripened field
And there for God the sickle wield. [Chorus]

3 O, work in earnest for the Lord
And trust him for the great reward;
'Tis he who labors wins the prize,
No idler ever gains the skies. [Chorus]

4 Then to thy task! no more delay!
Lest others bear thy sheaves away;
Lest some one wear eternally
The crown of life that was for thee. [Chorus]

Source: The Seventh-Day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book: for use in divine worship #1253

Author: F. E. Belden

Belden was born in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1858. He began writing music in his late teenage years after moving to California with his family. For health reasons he later moved to Colorado. He returned to Battle Creek with his wife in the early 1880s, and there he became involved in Adventist Church publishing. F. E. Belden wrote many hymn tunes, gospel songs, and related texts in the early years of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Belden was able to rapidly write both music and poetry together which enabled him to write a song to fit a sermon while it was still being delivered. He also wrote songs for evang­el­ist Bil­ly Sun­day. Though Belden’s later years were marred by misunderstandings with the church leadership over his royal… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: O Christian, idle all the day
Title: Work and Wait
Author: F. E. Belden
Language: English
Refrain First Line: Work and wait
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 6 of 6)
Page Scan

Gems of Gospel Song #70

Hymns for Use in Divine Worship ... Seventh-Day Adventists #d750

Page Scan

Pearly Portals #7

Page Scan

Quartette #387

Page Scan

Songs of Promise #48

TextPage Scan

The Seventh-Day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book #1253

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us