We Give Thee But Thine Own
We give thee but thine own
We Give Thee But Thine Own is a hymn text by William Walsham How (1864) in L.M. (8.8.8.8) meter. Found in CW21 750, CW93 485, ELH 445, ch95 382. Sung to SCHUMANN.
The hymn articulates a Lutheran understanding of Christian stewardship grounded in God's ultimate ownership and human responsibility to use earthly goods for God's glory and neighbor's good. It reflects the Reformation emphasis on vocation and the sanctification of daily life through conscientious stewardship.
History & Background
Written by Bishop William Walsham How in 1864, this hymn originally appeared as a stewardship hymn emphasizing that all possessions belong ultimately to God. It became widely adopted in Lutheran hymnals during the twentieth century as a standard stewardship hymn.
Hymnal Appearances
- Christian Worship: Hymnal — 750
- Christian Worship — 485
- Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 445
- Chalice Hymnal — 382
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 686
- The Hymnal 1982 — 343
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 410
- Lutheran Service Book — 781
- Lutheran Worship — 405
- New Century Hymnal — 465
- Trinity Hymnal — 428
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 441
- United Methodist Hymnal — 428
Bulletin Note
Written by English bishop William Walsham How in 1864, this stewardship hymn grounds Christian giving in God's absolute ownership, reflecting Reformation theology that sanctifies all vocations and earthly life as the arena of faithful discipleship.
Preaching Connection
This hymn transforms the Law's demand for generous giving into Gospel freedom by grounding stewardship not in guilt but in the joyful recognition of God's prior grace—all we return is already His, already given.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: God's Word as divine seed: planted in human hearts (1-2), assured of efficacy (3), culminating in eschatological vindication (4). Movement from present sowing through divine promise to final harvest.
In the Church Year
Suggested in the three-year series
- Proper 24 (2×)
- Proper 20 (1×)
- Proper 28 (1×)
From LCMS Worship's published hymn suggestions, 2014–2026. The count is how many of those yearly lists suggested this hymn for that day.
Overview
William Walsham How's stewardship hymn, often used as an offertory. It confesses that all we have is God's, held in trust (st. 1), and asks that we receive his gifts as stewards and give him the first-fruits (st. 2). It then turns to human need — bruised hearts, cold homes, straying lambs (st. 3) — and calls comforting, caring for the fatherless (st. 4), releasing captives and bringing the lost to God (st. 5) 'Christlike' work. It ends with Matthew 25:40: what we do for his, we do for him (st. 6).
Central theme: Stewardship of God's gifts and mercy to the needy as service done to Christ
Structure
Six short-meter quatrains. Stewardship (1-2) — need (3) — works of mercy (4-5) — Christ in the needy (6).
Law & Gospel Shape
Gospel framework: all is gift; 'lambs for whom the Shepherd bled.' The call to mercy flows from this.
Confessional Connections
Stewardship: all goods are God's gifts held in trust (First Article; LC I.24-27). Works of mercy as fruits of faith (AC VI, XX). Matt 25:40 — Christ hidden in the neighbor; Luther: our neighbor is the place God sends our works.
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Offertory; stewardship Sunday; Thanksgiving; diaconal and mission emphases.
Historical Notes
How (1823-1897), Bishop of Wakefield; first published 1854 (Psalms and Hymns).
About the Tune
ENERGY (William H. Monk, 1861).
Scripture References
1 Chr 29:14 Ps 24:1 1 Cor 4:2, 7 Prov 3:9 1 Pet 4:10 Luke 15:4-7 Jas 1:27 Isa 61:1 Luke 4:18 Matt 25:35-40 1 John 3:17
Stanza by Stanza
We give you only what is yours, whatever the gift; all we have is yours alone, a trust from you, Lord.
1 Chr 29:14: 'all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.' Ps 24:1. We are trustees, not owners (1 Cor 4:7). The Small Catechism: God 'gives me clothing and shoes… house and home… all that I need.'
- Scripture
- 1 Chr 29:14, Ps 24:1, 1 Cor 4:7, Jas 1:17
- Imagery & language
- Trust.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — all is gift.
- Connection to previous
- Stewardship.
May we receive your bounties as true stewards and gladly give you our first-fruits as you bless us!
'Stewards' (1 Cor 4:2; 1 Pet 4:10). 'First-fruits' (Prov 3:9) — giving first, not leftovers. 'Gladly' (2 Cor 9:7, 'God loves a cheerful giver').
- Scripture
- 1 Cor 4:2, 1 Pet 4:10, Prov 3:9, 2 Cor 9:7
- Imagery & language
- Stewards; first-fruits.
- Law / Gospel
- Sanctification — glad giving.
- Connection to previous
- Giving.
Hearts are bruised and dead, homes are bare and cold, and lambs for whom the Shepherd bled are straying from the fold.
The need: broken hearts, poverty, lost souls. 'Lambs for whom the Shepherd bled' — the motive for mission is Christ's blood shed for them (Luke 15:4-7; John 10:11). 'Dead' hearts — spiritual death needs the Gospel.
- Scripture
- Luke 15:4-7, John 10:11, 16, Isa 61:1
- Imagery & language
- Bruised hearts; cold homes; straying lambs.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — the world's need; Gospel — the Shepherd bled.
- Connection to previous
- Need.
To comfort and to bless, to find healing for sorrow, to care for the lonely and fatherless, is the work of angels on earth.
Jas 1:27: 'to visit orphans and widows in their affliction.' 'Angels' work below' — ministering spirits (Heb 1:14); Christians do in the body what angels do in spirit.
- Scripture
- Jas 1:27, Ps 68:5, 2 Cor 1:4, Heb 1:14
- Imagery & language
- Comfort; fatherless.
- Law / Gospel
- Sanctification — works of mercy.
- Connection to previous
- Mercy.
To free the captive, to bring the lost to God, to teach the way of life and peace — this is a Christlike thing.
Isa 61:1; Luke 4:18 — Christ's own mission. 'To God the lost to bring' — evangelism. 'To teach the way of life and peace' — the Word. These are 'Christlike' because Christ did them first.
- Scripture
- Isa 61:1, Luke 4:18, Luke 19:10, Matt 28:19-20
- Imagery & language
- Captives; the lost.
- Law / Gospel
- Sanctification — Christ's mission continued.
- Connection to previous
- Mission.
And we believe your Word, though our faith may be dim: whatever we do for yours, Lord, we do for you.
Matt 25:40: 'as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' 'Though dim our faith may be' — a humble admission. The promise rests on Christ's Word, not on the quality of our faith or works.
- Scripture
- Matt 25:35-40, Heb 6:10, Mark 9:41
- Imagery & language
- Dim faith; unto Thee.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — Christ receives our service.
- Connection to previous
- Unto Christ.
Themes
Stewardship and giving Christian consecration God's ownership and sovereignty Gratitude Discipleship