The Story Behind the Hymn: Must I Go, and Empty-Handed?
The story behind the hymn: "Must I Go, and Empty-Handed?" is short but remarkable. It was written by Charles Carroll Luther in 1877. Charles Luther (1847-1924) was a journalist and a lay evangelist before being ordained as a Baptist minister in 1886. He wrote about 25 hymn texts. In 1887, he heard Rev. A.G. Upham relate the story of a young man who was about to die. This young man had been a Christian for only one month and sorrowed because he'd had so little time to serve the Lord. He was thankful to the Lord for giving him salvation during his final hour. He, however, was grieved that he would not have an opportunity to serve the Lord nor to share Him with others. He said, “I am not afraid to die; Jesus saves me now. But must I go empty handed?” Upon hearing this account, Charles Luther wrote this hymn. Charles Luther then handed the lyrics to George C. Stebbins who did a wonderful job conveying the heart’s cry of this lovely hymn. The complete hymn was first published in 1878.
At death’s advent, may we be spared from sharing his lament. Sadly, because of the anxieties of this age and the deceitfulness of riches (Matt. 13:22), many Christians are stupefied by the lure of the world and consequently languish in their personal walk with Christ. This explains the prevailing state of spiritual barrenness among many of today’s Christians. Let us heed this hymn’s counsel to stop wasting our years in vanity and instead to give them to our Savior, to strive for the salvation of souls while we still have breath. May we pray to be spiritually energized to take up the burden of sharing the gospel, so that rather than living a life of vanity to later be regretted, we may redeem our time (Eph. 5:16) and bear fruit unto eternal life (John 4:36).
“Must I go, and empty handed,”
Thus my dear Redeemer meet?
Not one day of service give Him,
Lay no trophy at His feet?
Chorus:
“Must I go, and empty handed?”
Must I meet my Savior so?
Not one soul with which to greet Him,
Must I empty handed go?
Not at death I shrink or falter,
For my Savior saves me now;
But to meet Him empty handed,
Thought of that now clouds my brow.
O the years in sinning wasted,
Could I but recall them now,
I would give them to my Savior,
To His will I’d gladly bow.
O ye saints, arouse, be earnest,
Up and work while yet ’tis day;
Ere the night of death o’er take thee,
Strived for souls while still you may.
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