Have you ever wondered what the Bible had to say about friendship? Are there proverbs about friendship in the Word of God? What can we learn about friendship from Jesus?
These are great questions, and we will try to answer them all in this article. It’s important to make smart decisions when creating lifelong friendships! You want to surround yourself with good people – individuals who will help you succeed in life!
As Christians, we don’t always know the right things to do. That’s why we must turn to the Bible to get the wise counsel we need. To learn the top traits that you should exhibit as a Christian friend or what you should look for in a friendship, let’s look at the Word of God!
This post contains affiliate links. See my full disclosure for more details.
What Does the Bible Say About Friendship?
Here are just a few of the principles and scriptures about friendship found in the Bible.
Make Wise Choices When Creating Lifelong Friendships
These people will be in your life forever, so you might as well make sure they are people who you enjoy being around! Plus, if they are good for you, you have a much better chance of coming out ahead in life!
Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” – 1 Cor. 15:33 (NASB)
Freely Forgive Your Friends
Once you make solid friendships, you’ll want to be open to forgiveness. It’s important to remember that God has forgiven us so much, and we are to treat others the way that He treats us – with love and forgiveness!
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. – Col. 3:13 (NIV)
Help Your Friends Succeed, and You Will be Richly Blessed
Most solid friendships result in both partners helping one another out through the good times and bad. If we are there for our friends, we are much more likely to have them there for us when we are in need, right?
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. – Eccl. 4:9-10 (NLT)
Treat Others as You Would Want to be Treated
The Bible encourages us to treat others better than ourselves. This is not to say that you should not take care of yourself, but you should practice love, empathy, respect, and a great deal of compassion with your friends.
Love each other as brothers and sisters and honor others more than you do yourself. – Romans 12:10 (CEV)
Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. – 1 Peter 4:8 (NLT)
Encourage and Build Up Your Friends
The Bible wants us to make one another better people. If you know of something you could do to help another person out, why would you not want to do that? It’s not just about being empathetic; it’s also about being loyal and good to your friends!
So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. – 1 Thes. 5:11 (NLT)
Get the Monthly Bible Reading Plan
What Did Jesus Say About Friendship?
Jesus upheld scripture in all He did and in all He preached. When He spoke, it was wise counsel, so we should listen to what He has to say! Our Lord is very intelligent and always has something wise to say. In fact, when it came to friends, He advised us in a smart manner.
Jesus knew that God loves everyone and wanted us to share that love with those we encounter on a daily basis. However, He especially knew that we needed to love our friends and treat them in the same way we would want to be treated if the roles were reversed.
So, what can we learn from Jesus? First, treat your friends with love. We don’t literally need to die to show we love our friends, but Jesus did that for us! He wanted us to know that His love for us is like no other, and it’s something we should strive to demonstrate in our friendships!
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. – John 15:13 (ESV)
Another thing we can learn from Jesus is that we should treat our friends as we would want to be treated. Put yourself in their shoes and respect them with empathy. Empathy is all about trying to feel the way the other person does; show them the love that you desire.
Do to others as you would like them to do to you. – Luke 6:31 (NLT)
What Does the Book of Proverbs Say About Friendship?
There are many Bible proverbs about friendship that teach us quite a lot. These great lessons can help you as you are a friend to others and as you choose people to spend your life with. Listen to a few great proverbs on friendship to get the full picture from God!
A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. – Proverbs 16:28 (ESV)
A Friend Loves You No Matter What
A true friend will always love you – through the ups and downs. She won’t desert you when you feel as if your world is crashing down. In fact, that is the time when she shines. Have you ever noticed that a best friend shines in the areas where you are weak?
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. – Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)
A Friend is Always by Your Side
A true friend is not just there when you have successes, but she is there when you are experiencing failures. She doesn’t abandon you when the chips are down; instead, that is when she is most like a sister – a bond that cannot easily be unbroken!
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. – Proverbs 18:24 (ESV)
A Friend is Good to Have
A real friend is a valuable person to have around. She is able to help you, read you, and tell what your mood is just by the expression on your face. If you don’t have a good Christian friend like this in your life, you should really invest in one. It’s well worth the journey!
Do not forsake your friend and your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away. – Proverbs 27:10 (ESV)
A Friend Can Always be Trusted
Confiding in a friend is not always the easiest thing to do, especially if you have trust issues. However, if you’ve made wise choices in the company you keep, your friends can be trusted.
Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. – Proverbs 27:6 (NIV)
A Friend Will Give You Wise Counsel
Whether it is relationship advice or work problems, it’s always good to have someone to get advice from – someone you can count on to give you the truth in the matter. If you’ve made friends with fellow believers, you know that they have your best interests at heart.
You can rely on the counsel of good Christian friends, as they have the end goal as you – to live eternally in heaven with our Lord!
The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense. – Proverbs 27:9 (NLT)
The godly give good advice to their friends; the wicked lead them astray. – Proverbs 12:26 (NLT)
A Friend Makes You a Better Person
A good friend will make you a stronger person in every way – mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and even physically! That’s why your friends give you a “hard time” about things that are good for you, take you jogging when you don’t want to go, and challenge you spiritually!
As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. – Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)
Conclusion
You should now have a good understanding of what the Bible says about true friendship, especially the proverbs about friendship! I hope you will walk away from here with a greater knowledge of what it takes to be a good friend to others and look for those traits in the friendships you build!
Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. – Proverbs 13:20 (ESV)
Related Posts and Resources:
- Monthly Bible Reading Plan
- Pslams of Lament
- Bible Studies for Women
- Psalms of Praise and Thanksgiving
- Bible Verses About Wisdom and Knowledge
- What the Bible Says About Serving Others
Meet the Author
Michele L. Kelsey is a Bible scholar and freelance writer who founded and manages Sharing Life and Love – a Christian website dedicated to helping people become the best version of themselves through volunteerism, Christianity, and recovery. She also runs a writing business, Michele L Kelsey.