The song, “I’d Rather Have Jesus”, is one of my favorites to sing, but I especially love the story behind how it came to be. Originally Rhea Miller wrote the words as a poem, being inspired by what her father had said in church, just after his receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior. The first verse was the testimony of his surrender to Christ.

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

Rhea Miller’s little poem became loved by Mrs. Maude Whitney Shea, the mother of “George Beverly Shea. In 1932 at the age of 23, George had been struggling with the decision of whether to use his talents in the secular music world or to continue singing for churches. One afternoon as he sat down to practice, he found the words to Rhea Miller’s poem, left on the front of his piano.

I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause
I'd rather be true to His dear cause
I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame
I'd rather be true to His holy name.

As George read over those lines, God began giving him both a melody, as well as the certainty in his heart of what path he would choose. That night, George sang his new composition for the first time to the congregation of his father’s church. Amazingly, once George had committed to the purpose God had for him, doors began to open for him to sing in many churches, eventually becoming the soloist first for evangelistic crusades with Jack Wyrtzen and later with Billy Graham. The world-wide fame, George had let go of when he chose to follow Jesus, was given to him as he sang for God and he eventually released more than 70 albums, with his final recording made as he approached his ninetieth year! George Beverly Shea could truly say at the end:

I rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today!


“I’d Rather Have Jesus”
Lyrics 1922 by Rhea Miller
Music 1932 by George Beverly Shea