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It was in the thirties. Business curves were still heading downward and there was rumor of a salary cut at the New York insurance office where 22-year-old Beverly Shea was employed as a clerk. Possessor of a deep melodious voice, the young man was offered a radio contract and immediately saw opportunities for fame and possible riches in his regular appearance on a secular program.
Shea had been pondering the matter for several days when he sat down to the piano early one Sunday morning to rehearse a hymn he was to sing in church that morning. As he played and sang his eyes fell on a piece of paper, on which was written:
I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold,
I'd rather be His than have riches untold!
The poem, by Mrs. Rhea Miller, had been placed where Beverly would see it by his mother, a minister's wife, who knew of the offer her son was pondering. Above all, she wanted her son, a Christian, to become wholly consecrated in His service. His eyes raced over the words:
I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause
I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame
The sentences struck his very heart. His fingers unconsciously left the tune he was rehearsing and began to find the melody which is today known to millions.
Several days after, the director who spoke to Shea in behalf of the radio network was amazed to receive a firm "no" in response to the offer. "No" was a strange word to the director's ear as thousands of singers would have leaped at such an opportunity as was proposed to the young bass-baritone. From that time forward, the words of the poem "I'd rather Have Jesus" set to music became his testimony. --Power
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