Rhea F. Miller

Rhea F. Miller (1894–1966) was an American hymn writer, poet, and dedicated piano instructor whose deeply personal verse became the cornerstone of one of the 20th century’s most enduring gospel anthems. Remembered for her infectious optimism and radical generosity, Miller spent her life using music to empower others and strengthen the musical foundations of the local church.

Rhea F. Miller. Source: Saginaw County Hall of Fame

The Coupe and the Mission: A Passion for Pastors' Kids

Rhea was married to Dr. H. V. Miller, a prominent minister who eventually rose to serve as a General Superintendent for the Church of the Nazarene. Following her husband's death, Mrs. Miller refused to let her grief stall her ministry. Instead, she refocused her musical talents into a targeted, grassroots mission.

Driving across her region in a distinctive little gray Nash coupe, Miller traveled from town to town with a specific goal: providing free piano lessons to the children of local pastors.

• The Vision: She recognized that small-town pastors rarely had the financial means for private music lessons, yet their churches desperately needed future musicians.

• The Sacrifice: She offered her teaching services entirely for free to parsonage families, trusting that fees from her secular students would offset her travel costs and sustain her.

Those who knew her described her as an incredibly inspiring figure—unfailingly positive, quick to smile, and brimming with encouragement for young musicians.

A Drunkard’s Deliverance: The Birth of a Song

The story behind Miller's most famous lyric is rooted in a profound family transformation. For years, her father, Martin James Ross, battled severe alcoholism. His addiction was so intense that he frequently stooped to stealing money from his wife’s purse just to fund his next drink.

Through it all, Rhea’s mother remained a steadfast Christian. Regardless of rain, snow, sleet, or thick mud, she walked to her local church, keeping her family anchored in faith. Eventually, her quiet resilience cracked through her husband's defenses.

One night, at a revival service in Brooktondale, New York, Martin Ross stood up, completely delivered from his addiction. He offered a raw, emotional testimony to the congregation, declaring:

"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."

Sitting in the pews, Rhea was so moved by her father's public declaration of freedom that she immediately began transforming his testimony into a structured poem.

The Sunday Morning Discovery

In 1932, a 23-year-old insurance clerk and aspiring classical baritone named George Beverly Shea was sitting at the piano in his parents' home, facing a major career crossroad. He had been offered a lucrative, prestigious singing contract with a major secular radio network—a position that promised fame and financial security but would pull him away from gospel music.

That Sunday morning, he noticed a piece of paper sitting on the piano music rack. His mother, recognizing that her son was wrestling with a difficult choice, had handwritten the words to Rhea F. Miller's poem, hoping its message would guide him.

Original Sheet Music for 'I'd Rather Have Jesus'. Source: Etsy

As Shea read Miller's words, his fingers began to trace a spontaneous, soulful melody across the keys to fit the rhythm of the text:

"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."

The song solidified Shea's decision to turn down the secular network. He went on to copyright the musical arrangement in 1939, and it became his signature solo, sung to millions worldwide over the next several decades at Billy Graham Crusades.

Other Musical Works

While "I'd Rather Have Jesus" overshadowed her other writings, Miller was a frequent writer for church conventions and denominational publications:

• "It Is Worth All It Costs To Be Holy" (1937): A focused holiness hymn copyrighted through the Nazarene Publishing House that was featured in denominational hymnals for mid-century congregations.

• Missionary Chorus (Psalm 126:6): A rhythmic, easy-to-learn scripture chorus written for a Nazarene Missionary Convention based on the text: "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves."

Rhea Miller passed away in 1966, leaving behind generations of church pianists who learned to play because she parked her gray Nash coupe in their driveways, alongside a text that continues to define the concept of spiritual choice for millions of believers.