Another hymn within the Glory to God Hymnal, within the topic of Harvest, is the hymn Come, Labor On by Jane Borthwick, Hymn 719. I do enjoy the website Hymnary.org as to its wealth of information on the history of hymns, their authors, the tunes and even recordings of a verse.
This hymn itself is organized into the topic of harvest, I believe, as the author draws strong allusions to the life of faith in mission to harvesting within a ripe field, just as Jesus does in his own teachings. Parables, like Matthew 13, where Jesus speaks to the coming of God’s kingdom like a Sower who scatters seeds and of course, the immeasurable wealth contained in a small mustard seed. I am particularly struck by the final verse, encouraging us all to be diligent and ever laboring in our lives, as it goes as such:
Come, labor on. No time to rest, till glows the western sky, till the long shadows o’er our pathway lie, and a glad sound comes with the setting sun, ‘well done, well done!
The author, Jane Borthwick composed this poem in 1859, and it was set to music around 1916.
Prayer
Diligent Lord and ever tiller of the soil within we all seek to root and strengthen and grow. Continue to guide and direct our work. May our labor be service to you for all our days as we all hope to hear that comforting assurance, “well done, good and trustworthy servant.” Amen.