One of the best known gospel songs was not written for public consumption! Please give it a listen, and come back for more.

Not intended for prime time

Around 1855 Joseph Scriven wrote this song’s lyrics as a poem to comfort his sorrowing mother. The poem made the rounds, attributed to “anonymous”, and the poem found its way to Charles Converse who is credited with adding a melody to the poem in 1868. Years later, when Joseph himself was on a sickbed, a friend found the original poem among Joseph’s things and learned he had written it. That discovery resulted in credit finally being correctly assigned to the song’s lyricist.

An audience of practically no one

Joseph Scriven wrote the poem without seeking an audience (besides his mother), but his beautiful song has certainly found one on its own! There’s a lesson to be learned here.

When I was growing up, “Leave It To Beaver” was a popular TV show about a middle class suburban family’s everyday adventures. I recall a clever line said by Beaver — the young kid in this TV family. Beaver quipped, “No point in wasting good manners on my family!” I thought that was funny, and said it in my fifth-grade class. I’ll never forget Miss Jackson, the teacher, taking me to task, correcting me, saying, “Oh, my! Your family is the most important place to use good manners!”

The lesson: We shouldn’t reserve our best for the big crowd or for strangers. Those closest to us are worthy of our best.

John 3:16 might be the most famous Bible verse. Do you know how many people were there when Jesus said it? Just one! Nicodemus.

Jesus’s talk on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24 is another example: “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.”

Wouldn’t you love to have heard Jesus that day? Though it would certainly have enthralled a large stadium full of people, Jesus gave the whole talk to … two people!

Jesus’s first miracle — water to wine — who saw it? Only the servants. The guests got to drink the wine, but the workers alone saw the miracle.

Let’s not be afraid our “best” will be wasted if the audience seems small. Let God open the doors as He sees fit. Let’s do our best to bring GOD’S BEST to what ever group we have the privilege to serve.

Precious Savior, still our refuge

Our song reflects the wonderful truth recorded in Philippians 4:6,7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (NASB)

At times in life we will be tempted with anxiety. Let’s make up our minds to remember these verses and act on them in those times. Let’s arm ourselves by memorizing Philippians 4:6 & 7, and even learning a verse or two of this wonderful song. We can give the Lord something in our minds to work with, and annoy the adversary at the same time by remembering what a friend we have in Jesus.

God bless you lots.

-Dale R.

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LYRICS: What A Friend We Have In Jesus
Words: Joseph Scriven c. 1855
Music: Charles Convers, 1868

1. What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

2. Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

3. Are you weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He’ll take and shield you,
You will find a solace there.

Let’s stay in touch

Each time I post a new song and lesson here I send a brief, cheerful note to friends of this song site. The note gives a quick description of the song and lesson along with a link to the new song’s page. It is super-easy for you to get a note from me, too. Just click the green “Song of the Week” button below and you are almost there.

To sweeten the deal, you will also get instant access to the “Music Box” where I put all the free resources and downloads that go along with these song pages. Check it out now! Good stuff. (Side note — I still post announcements on social media, too, even though I have learned it is terribly unreliable at getting the message out and keeping us connected. Email gets that job done where social media fails. We do well to connect this way, and avoid getting throttled by social media.)

Song of the Week

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First posted August 16, 2019. New video and updated article posted June 9, 2023.