Lyrics (click here to hear instrumental)
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 handChorus:
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;
Rhea F. Miller (1922)
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]
The History Behind the Hymn
Her father, Martin James Ross, such had been no more than a drunk for some time and would actually steal money from his wife’s purse, just to get enough money to buy another drink. Mrs. Ross was a good, solid, faithful Christian, though. And she just kept living her life for Jesus. She would walk to church in any kind of weather- rain, snow, sleet, mud, whatever it was, just to get there to be with God’s people. Eventually her steadfastness broke through the walls her husband had isolated himself with. He surrendered to the wooing of God’s Spirit and was wonderfully delivered from the awful bondage of sin. He stood one night in a service in Brooktondale and began 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”.
https://hymnary.org/person/Miller_Rhea
A Lesson for Me
Pro 23:5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
Pro 22:1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
Riches can be a fleeting thing. I think of people who win the lottery and fall into millions of dollars but they do not have the wisdom to take care of their new found wealth. They squander their millions on things rather than putting it towards God’s eternal kingdom. After losing their fortune, they are remembered by others as someone having no common sense; thus goes their good name.
But I think of riches as more than that: my eternal salvation purchased by Jesus Himself, the love of family, grandchildren(s)’ hugs and kisses, longevity with your sweetheart, etc. Those to me have more weight in my heart than gold itself.
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
Message for today
Everyone likes to be recognized for a job well done. And there’s nothing wrong with that. But if that recognition is more important to you than to hear Jesus say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” then your priorities are misplaced.
The work we do here on earth for the furtherance of the Gospel is what will matter for all eternity. Did you lead someone to Christ? Some lead thousands in their lifetime. While others lead one or two. What is the price of one soul? A soul is priceless when compared to that soul living in the fires of hell for all eternity. What would one person pay to avoid the pits of hell, I wonder?
Mat 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Friend, if God has blessed you with riches, then use those riches for His glory. Those are the ones that will last for all eternity. If you don’t have monetary riches, then use your talents for His glory!
Oh that we would look upon Jesus as the leader in all that we say and do. If we did, we would be doing all things according to His will, amen? It’s easier said than done, I understand that. However, striving for that mark on a daily basis will bring us closer to Him and more like Him!
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.
If you are not truly born-again, there is coming a time when it will be too late for you to repent and be saved. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab You Can Be Born Again and Know It!
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