Friendship
Friendship is truly one of God’s blessings to mankind. With honest and wholesome friends, we can better endure the hardships of life and rejoice in the wonderful moments. However, we must know how to choose friends and how to be a good friend ourselves. Thankfully, we can look to the Bible for guidance on friendship.
Friendship can be beautiful but it can also be messy and difficult. There is no doubt that friendships can be challenging and they take time and effort to build healthy relationships. The Bible provides plenty of guidance on the topic of choosing friends and how to respond to each other. The following are just some of the characteristics of a true friend
Friends encourage us to our highest good (1 Thessalonians 5:11);
Friends forgive each other and help each other in difficulties (Colossians 3:13; Ecclesiastes 4:10).
Friends do not gossip or listen to gossip, allowing it to hurt the friendship (Proverbs 16:28);
Friends stick around even when things get difficult, being reliable (Proverbs 18:24)
Friends give pleasant, sincere advice, seeking our highest good (Proverbs 27:9; Proverbs 12:26);
Friends honor each other above themselves (Romans 12:10)
Friends love each other the same way Christ loves us (John 15:12-13);
Friends challenge each other to meet the highest good (Proverbs 27:17)
Friends are not bad-tempered (Proverbs 22:24-25);
Friends never withhold kindness and mercy (Job 6:14).
Proverbs 18:24-25
24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Colossians 3:12-14
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
John 15:12-15
12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
Proverbs 27:17
17 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
Galatians 6:2
2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Proverbs 17:17
17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
1 Corinthians 15:33
33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
Job 6:14
14 “Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
1 Peter 4:8-10
8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
Hebrews 10:24-25
24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Proverbs 16:28
28 A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.
Proverbs 22:24-27
24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, 25 or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared. 26 Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; 27 if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.
John 15:12-14
12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command.
Proverbs 12:26-27
26 The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. 27 The lazy do not roast any game, but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.
Proverbs 27:6-9
6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. 7 One who is full loathes honey from the comb, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet. 8 Like a bird that flees its nest is anyone who flees from home. 9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.
Proverbs 13:20
20 Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.
Proverbs 17:9
9 Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
Luke 6:31
31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Romans 1:12
12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.
1 John 4:7
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
John 15:15
15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
Proverbs 22:11
11 One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace will have the king for a friend.
Romans 12:10-11
10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Philippians 2:3
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
James 4:11
11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.
Ephesians 4:32
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.