Theme this week: Songs of Precious Salvation
September 30, 2021 (Thursday)
Mrs. Rhea F. Miller, author of the song, “I’d Rather Have Jesus,” was the wife of Dr. H. V. Miller, one of the General Superintendents of the Church Of The Nazarene. After her husband’s death Mrs. Miller taught piano and traveled all around the area where she lived in upstate New York, in her little gray Nash coupe, teaching piano. She had a special mission in life and that was to get into pastors’ homes and teach their kids how to play the piano so they would have something to contribute to the church when they became adults. She would offer to teach these kids for free and hope to make up the difference with her other students. She was a very inspirational woman and made a deep impact upon many lives. She was very positive, always smiling, full of encouragement, and always enthusiastic.
Her father, Martin James Ross, converted through the influence of his family, stood one night in a service in Brooktondale, New York, and gave his testimony of how much Jesus meant to him… “I’d rather have Jesus than all the gold or silver in the whole world. I’d rather have Him than anything this world has to offer.” Mrs. Miller sat there and heard the words of her father’s testimony and a new song was born- “I’d Rather Have Jesus”.
George Beverly Shea spent his adult life with Billy Graham, singing the gospel that Graham preached. The video below includes his personal testimony concerning this song, “I’d Rather Have Jesus.” He found the song at age 23 as a poem, composed the music and made the song famous by recording it and singing it many times in many places throughout his life.
I hope you can join with him in quoting the words of this wonderful song, which testifies of the love we have for Jesus Christ, who saves us by His grace when we truly believe in Him as our Savior.
I’D RATHER HAVE JESUS
Author: Rhea F. Miller
1922
1 I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands.
I’d rather be led by His nail pierced hand
Chorus:
Than to be the king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin’s dread sway.
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.
2 I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame.
I’d rather be true to His holy name [Chorus]
3 He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
He’s sweeter than honey from out the comb;
He’s all that my hungering spirit needs.
I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead [Chorus]