I'd Rather Have Jesus

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 a king of a vast domain.
Or be held in sin's dread sway.
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

Choices. Priorities. Decisions.

I meant to blog about this hymn a week or so back, but am just now getting around to it. Its been in my head for at least a week. Kind of an oldie that I actual don't remember singing in church as a hymn, but it is a hymn none the less.

I think the topic of priorities is especially pertinent during the Christmas season. It is so tempting to get drawn into the commercialism and trying to outdo each other with gift giving and decorating and all of that.

So this hymn brings me back to what is the most important in my life. There are a lot of good things that we all choose to make important to us. But none of that compares to having Jesus. I really don't know what people who don't have Jesus in their lives do. How can you possibly find peace in the middle of tragedy? Who do you turn to when life is filled with confusion? Or who comforts you when you feel all alone?

I remember when I was in my darkest days. I don't want to harp on the same subject, but when we were trying to have kids and expand our family, I could be in a room full of people and feel so alone. I felt like no one understood me. Like no one could understand me. I knew in my head that others had gone through this same situation and yet, nothing, no one could comfort or sympathize with me.

But Jesus.

Bj, who was so supportive and loving, couldn't heal where I felt broken. And unfixable. And unwanted. And I felt like I was being punished by God. Like he was ignoring me, on purpose.

But Jesus continued to show himself to me. He continued to speak to me and love me. He continued to use me, even in my brokenness.

People who have never experienced the love of God can't begin to understand the need for God. But once you've felt his presence, had relationship with him, it becomes a necessity. Without Jesus, you aren't really living. Although choosing him may be a difficult decision, living for him is so worth it. His love, a relationship with him, cannot be replaced with anything else. He is the only friend who will never leave you, who can love you unconditionally, no matter how broken you are or how many times you've failed him.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet he did not sin. Hebrews 4:15