I'd Rather Have Jesus!

When I read the title of this wonderful song, I'm so thankful that my heart says a big "Amen!"  It is wonderful to know that "there's no thirsting for life's pleasures, nor adorning rich and gay; for I've found a greater treasure, one that fadeth not away."

In John 6:35, we read:  "Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst."  What a sweet promise!  If you don't know Jesus, remember that Today is the day of salvation, and Jesus said: "Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out."
I trust the story behind this beautiful song will be a special blessing and encouragement to you today!

     "In Binghamton, New York, in 1912, the Superintendent of a mission said to his 18 year old daughter: "Rhea, you've written a little music.  Why not give us a song entitled, 'I'd Rather Have Jesus'?
      That's a rather unpoetic name for a song, she thought, but she could not shake the idea.  Finally Rhea Ross sat down and wrote the words and melody.  Ten years later her husband suggested she publish the composition to make it available to others.  Church and camp-meeting singers in New York state and in the New England area found it useful.  When she copyrighted the song, she promised to give half its earnings to foreign missions.  Little did she dream she would be able to contribute to a number of missionary projects.

      In 1935, Mrs. Adam Shea became concerned for her unhappy son, George Beverly.  He, like many another, was being pulled in two directions: He wanted to be a Christian, but the world called for his talents.  Mother Shea knew of her son's turmoil; she also knew the remedy.  She put the words of 'I'd Rather Have Jesus' where her son would discover them when he played the family piano.

      George Beverly Shea himself tells about it.  "The music I wrote for the words came to me in my parents home in New Jersey when I was 23 years of age.  This experience of coming across these beautiful words and writing music for them became very precious to me.  It proved to be a time of complete dedication to the Lord, to be used of Him in any way, in His work."  Later that morning in the Wesleyan Church where his father was pastor, George Beverly Shea, accompanied by a little reed organ, sang the song which had brought him to a place of full surrender to God's will.

      In May, 1980, George Beverly Shea heard 900 Japanese students sing 'I'd Rather Have Jesus!'
In his words -- "It was a moving experience for me, you may be sure"!!!

     "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.
      I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause; I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I'd rather have Jesus than world wide fame; I'd rather be true to His holy name.

      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
      Than to be the king of a vast domain and be held in sin's dread sway.
I'd rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today!"