Jesus Is All the World to Me -Will L. Thompson

The author and composer of this gospel song, Will L. Thompson, was born in 1847 in East Liverpool, Ohio. After graduating from Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio, he went to the New England Conservatory of Music in 1873, and he later continued his musical studies in Leipzig, Germany. He wrote many popular romantic, humorous, and patriotic songs. He had the rare gift of being both a lyricist and a composer and was paid well for his works. His critics sometimes called him “that millionaire composer.” Thompson was simply a good businessman who knew the value of his work.

Thompson eventually opened music stores in East Liverpool and Chicago. His publishing company, The W. L. Thompson Music Company, produced secular, sacred, and classical music and was one of the most successful music publishers of its day. Thompson was known to play and sing for hours to “sell” a song to an undecided customer.

When he was forty years old, Thompson was influenced by D. L. Moody to write some sacred songs. Once he started to write them, he dedicated himself to writing only Christian songs. His concern for people in the small towns with limited exposure to good music inspired him to take it to them. He loaded a piano on a horse-drawn wagon and sang concerts of his music in many of the towns. Some of his gospel songs included “Lead Me Gently Home, Father,” “There’s A Great Day Coming,” and “Softly and Tenderly.”

“Jesus is All the World to Me” first appeared in 1904 in the “New Century Hymnal.” He considered it his song of personal testimony. The stanzas remind believers that Christ is their strength, friend, guardian, and guide. Thompson wrote, “My life, my joy, my all.” For me to live is Christ... (Philippians 1:21). Unlike most gospel songs of the early twentieth century, this one doesn’t have the usual refrain, but each stanza ends with the simple phrase “He’s my friend.”

Thompson became ill while on tour with his family in Europe, and he died on September 20, 1909, after returning home. He experienced the “Eternal life, eternal joy” of which he had written. As the rest of Philippians 1:21 says, and to die is gain. A close friend said of him:

“Will L. Thompson lives in his songs that give wings to the gospel and still bring strength and comfort to many souls...His musical gift was matched by a fine character and a beautiful spirit...Simplicity, sincerity, humility, and righteousness marked his life.”

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