“No man is an island.”
We all need friends to rely on during good and bad times.
A true friend is unique in every aspect.
He is someone you can trust to be on your side all the time.
A true friend trusts your opinion, cares, and listens to your concerns.
He is quick to rebuke you when you are wrong and praises you when you are right.
My best friend is the most amazing guy on earth.
He is not a perfect guy, but he is always there for me.
We started more than 15 years ago, and yet, despite being separated by distance, we still keep in touch and encourage each other.
So, how do you know your real friends? Are there bible verses about friendship that should guide the choice of our friends?
Only God searches the heart. He sees the end from the beginning.
I have compiled bible verses about friendship to help you learn about your true friends.
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Bible verses about friendship
Here are other scriptures about friendship in the Bible.
1. Proverbs 18: 24 on Best friends
“There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother”
2. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 on close friends staying stronger together
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 fallsand 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.
3. Proverbs 27:17 on strong friendship and happiness
“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”
4. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 on friendship that encourages one another
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing”
5. 1 Corinthians 15:33 on avoiding bad friends
“Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame“
6. Proverbs 22:24-25 on Avoiding friends quick to anger
“Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.”
7. James 4:4 on friendship with the world
“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God”
8. Psalm 41:9 on Trusting no one completely
“Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.”
9. Job 2:11-13 (Be like Job Friends)
When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him.
12 When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads.
13 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.
10. Proverbs 12:26 on making Good Friends
“The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray”
11. Proverbs 13: 20
“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm”
12. Romans 1: 12
“That is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine”
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Friendship bible verses explained
1. Proverbs 18: 24 on Best friends
“There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother”
Personally, I have brothers and family members that are very close to me. This love comes from growing up together and understanding each other. Each time I have issues with my brothers, we quickly settle, forgive each other, and move on.
The book of Proverbs says a true friend sticks around even in overwhelming difficulties. They comfort you in times of trouble, even when the world has deserted you. They are even closer than a brother.
Having said that, some friends are just around you because of what they tend to Gain. In a short while, they act as they care. They behave as if they will always be around. But, unfortunately, they are just there to hurt you. The Bible is saying we should avoid such fiends.
2. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 on close friends staying stronger together
“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken”
The essence of friendship can never be overemphasized. Besides the comfort you get around friends who love you, there are medical proofs of good company lowering blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels.
Therefore, friendship is necessary for our lives. In fact, it isn’t easy to be an island in this world. It would help if you had people you associate with. If you don’t, it becomes difficult to get the support you need when the devil tempts you.
“And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken”
A friend will be there to fight for your need, and together both of you can withstand any temptation of the devil through the grace of Jesus Christ.
Therefore, if you have someone always standing by your side and telling you the truth, it’s best to treasure him/her as well. A true friend does not come easily.
3. Proverbs 27:17 on strong friendship and happiness
“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”
A close friend supports you and makes you happy. He understands your mood and is always there for you. In times of trouble, friends support each other (sharpens themselves) and help put a smile on each other faces.
4. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 on a friendship that encourages one another
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing”
The phrase “just as you are doing” explains how the early Christian behaved amongst themselves. They were practically showing love and support to those that were in the faith. Their friendship was real, and they encouraged themselves even in persecution.
We should learn from Paul’s words. He wants us to be an encouragement to the hopeless and those struggling in the faith. He also wants us to be comforting in times of need.
“That is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine” Romans 1: 12
5. 1 Corinthians 15:33 on avoiding bad friends
“Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame“
Your best friends are those that understand the mission of Jesus Christ. Having friends that believe in the Almighty God encourages you to live righteously.
However, keeping bad friends can affect your way of life. You may suddenly start doing things that are entirely unacceptable to Christ. For example, you may start drinking excessively, smoking, partying, and indulging in sexual immorality.
To walk in the spirit, you must avoid bad friends that will ruin your love for Christ. Instead, keep good friends that will edify and build up your faith in Christ.
“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm” Proverbs 13: 20
6. Proverbs 22:24-25 on Avoiding friends quick to anger
“Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.”
Keeping friendship with men or women that are always quick to anger can easily corrupt your good manner. Because a bad company corrupts good manners, you may find yourself doing similar things.
7. James 4:4 on friendship with the world
“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God”
Having bad friends can easily pull you away from the faith in Christ. If you are not in Christ, you are already lusting after the things of the world.
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” Matthew 6:24
Therefore, if you walk in the flesh, you are a friend of the world and an enemy to God. You can not inherit God’s kingdom when you don’t keep his ways.
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God” Galatians 5:19-21
8. Psalm 41:9 on Trusting no one completely
“Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.”
While having good friends is worth it, you must not wholly trust man but only in God.
Unlike bad friends, God is always a true friend that you can run to anytime. He can do anything you ask and is willing to protect you from your enemies.
“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26
9. Job 2:11-13 (Be like Job Friends)
“Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him. And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great”
The book of Job describes Job’s torments in the hand of the devil. However, God only allowed him to be persecuted, and he never denounced God.
His friends are a classic example of what friendship should be. At times of Job’s suffering, they visited him, stayed with him for seven days, and continued to wish for the best. A good friend will stand by you whether in need or abound.
10. Proverbs 12:26 on making Good Friends
“The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray”
As Christians, we must make good friends. This helps boost our faith in Christ. Having friends that are unbelievers will corrupt your faith in Christ Jesus. We should learn to walk with those who already walk in the spirit.
What does the Bible say about friendship?
An excellent example of a friend is our Lord Jesus Christ. This is because he humbled himself, obeyed the father, came down to this earth, and died for our sins.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.” John 15: 12 – 14
A true friend is not selfless and is willing to give his life for the right reasons. Jesus Christ, through death, showed a classic example of what friendship should be and gave his life through the suffering of the cross.
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