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
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.

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
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.

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
Or be held in sin’s dread sway;
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

Words by Rhea Miller, 1922
Music by George Beverly Shea, 1932

The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.
Psalm 19:9 – 10

The law of Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
Psalm 119:72

What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ
Philippians 3:8

We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority.
1 Thessalonians 2:6

One of the memories from growing up was watching Christmas specials every year.  One of the favorites in our house was “Rudolf The Red-Nosed Reindeer.”  From Burle Ives as the snowman to the Bumble there are lots of memorable characters.  The is also a great collection of songs that come from this special. One of those songs went like this.

Fame and fortune. As a kid it was just a fun song, but as an adult, I have come to realize it is in reality the heartbeat of our society.  We are told that there are two things in this world to strive for, “Fame and Fortune.”

“Get a job where you can make lots of money.”  “I am going to be a famous actor someday.” These are the sound bites of the world today. Now, this is not just something of today’s culture.  These have been driving forces of the world for time in memorial.  We want fame and fortune, but Rhea Miller flies in the face of this thinking when she write, “I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold.

You see Miller understood that in reality it is not fame and fortune that we seek, but to be loved and to know our needs will be met.  As much as we think that fame and fortune will give us this, they will not.  We can find these things in Christ alone.  And so Miller writes, “I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold; I’d rather be His than have riches untold;” and goes on to write, “I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause; . . . I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame;”

This is what the Bible tells us in Psalm 19:9 – 10 that “The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.”  Another words, think of the thing that you desire more than anything else.  Now realize that it pales in comparison with Jesus himself.

Fortune is not the answer, so what about fame? Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 2:6 that they “were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ (they) could have asserted (their) authority.” And why did they not seek this.  Paul answers this question in Philippians 3:8 “What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.”

Jesus is the only true source for meeting our needs.  It is, oh, so easy to become confused and begin to put other things ahead of God.  But Miller seeks to remind us that it is better to have Jesus than anything else.  So, I join with others in singing the words, “I’d rather have Jesus than anything This world affords today.”

Read more about “I’d Rather Have Jesus.”