God’s Best

God has His best things for the few

That dare to stand the test;

God has His se­cond choice for those

Who will not have His best.

Give me

O Lord

Thy best things

Let oth­ers take the rest;

I do not want their good things

For I have got the best.

It is not al­ways op­en ill

That risks the pro­mised rest;

The bet­ter oft­en is the foe

That keeps us from the best.

There’s scarce­ly one but vague­ly wants

In some way to be blest;

’Tis not Thy bless­ing

Lord

I seek

I want Thy ve­ry best.

And oth­ers make the high­est choice

But when by tri­als pressed

They shrink

they yield

they shun the cross

And so they lose the best.

I want

in this short life of mine

As much as can be pressed

Of serv­ice true for God and man;

Help me to be my best.

I want

among the vic­tor throng

To have my name con­fessed;

And hear my Mas­ter say at last

Well done

you did your best.