Go Labor On
Go labor on; spend and be spent
The hymn reflects Lutheran understanding of Christian vocation and the sanctification of all labor as service to God and neighbor. It emphasizes the Gospel imperative to witness and serve faithfully until death, grounded in Christ's redemptive work.
History & Background
Written by Horatius Bonar in 1843 during the Free Church controversy in Scotland. The hymn became widely adopted in Protestant hymnals throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, appearing in Lutheran collections including TLH, LBW, and LSB.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 668
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 507
- Lutheran Service Book — 862
- Lutheran Worship — 475
- Trinity Hymnal — 528
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 500
Bulletin Note
Horatius Bonar (1808–1889), Scottish minister and prolific hymn-writer, composed this meditation on Christian vocation in 1843. It reflects Reformed-Lutheran convergence on the sanctification of all honest labor as doxological service.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies the reformation principle of vocation: the Law reveals our obligation to serve faithfully, while the Gospel assures us that Christ's redemption frees us to labor not from fear but from gratitude and hope.
Themes
Christian labor and service Stewardship of time and talents Gospel witness and mission Sacrifice and dedication to Christ