I’d Rather Have Jesus

© Copyright 2013 PJ Stassen

All Rights Reserved

   As long as there are people who haven't heard the Good News I'll continue to tell them why there's a song in my heart.

              - George Beverly Shea.

   George Beverly Shea, ‘America’s beloved Gospel singer’, died on 16 April 2013 at the age of 104.  What a magnificent legacy, what a life.  Here was the man who, by God’s grace, had not only contributed a rich store of Christian music to the Church, but also had immortalised the song, I’d Rather Have Jesus, sung not only by himself but also by many other popular artists such as Dottie Rambo, Jim Reeves etc. in the gospel and country music field, to mention just a few.  All AboutGOD.com (2013) writes:

I’d Rather Have Jesus – The History

   I’d Rather Have Jesus is a song written by Rhea F. Miller with the tune written by George Beverly Shea. This poem, written in 1922, was left on a piano in the Shea home by Bev Shea's mother  who wanted her son to find it and change the course of his life.  The words, I’d rather have Jesus, moved George so much and spoke to him about his own aims and ambitions in life. He sat down at the piano and began singing them with a tune that seemed to fit the words. Shea’s mom heard him singing it and asked him to sing it at church the next day.  George’s life direction did change. He was offered a popular music career with NBC, but a few years later chose to become associated with evangelist Billy Graham and sang this hymn around the world.

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I’d Rather Have Jesus

(Text: Rhea F. Miller/Melody: George Beverly Shea)

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.

Refrain: Than to be a king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin’s dread sway,
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

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 of the comb;
He’s all that my hungering spirit needs,
I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead.

In his book, Songs That Lift The Heart (1972), GBS again writes: 

   A few months later, I was invited to the National Christian Endeavor's annual convention in Washington.  Though President Eisenhower was expected to put in an appearance and make a few brief remarks, I doubted he would be present when I sang.  However, he lingered afterward and was on hand when I sang I'd Rather Have Jesus.  Before he left he shook my hand and said: "Thank you for that song."  I was deeply touched.

(Read more about this song at:  http://gospeldrivendisciples.blogspot.com/2012/06/what-are-you-living-and-dying-for.html)   

Piet Stassen

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Bibliography

1.   AllAboutGod  I’D Rather Have Jesus.  Accessed At <http://www.allaboutgod.com/id-rather-have-jesus.htm> [online] 2013

2.  George Beverly Shea.  Accessed At <http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/s/h/e/shea_gb.htm> [online] 2013.     
3.  GospelDrivenDisciples. Accessed At <http://gospeldrivendisciples.blogspot.com/2012/06/what-are-you-living-and-dying-for.html> [online] 2013
4.  Shea, George B. with Bauer, Fred  Songs That Lift The Heart. Lakeland. (© Copyright 1972 by George Beverly Shea and Fred Bauer).