
God’s ‘Word’, that is the Bible has everything we need to know in life and helps us walk the path that God intends us to walk. The Bible also tells us the importance of good company. Some verses from the Bible show us how important friends are and the importance of the unseen, strong bond of friendship!
“And friends are friends forever, if the Lord’s the Lord of them and a friend will not say never, cause the welcome will not end…” These are the first few words of Michael W Smith’s heartrending song on friendship, especially when you are singing for a friend you have to bid farewell to! Friendship is an amazing bond formed between people. It’s amazing to see how this bond called friendship unites people of different castes, creed, nationality, etc. in an inseparable manner. Good friends are God’s gift! James 1:17, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
Friends not only fill our lives with joy by surrounding us with their warm fellowship, but also help our feet from slipping during horrendous storms in life. Certain Bible verses on friendship remind us of how important and valuable good friends are! Moreover, with God as the center of our friendship, we know that no misunderstanding, envy or pride can break our friendship. When we give our God the central position in our lives and our relationships, He will honor and guard them for us!
Psalm 1: 1 says, “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers.” The Bible clearly emphasizes how we are to keep away from bad company. This is very important for teenagers and young people, who so easily get swayed by trendy or so-called ‘cool friends’. It is important to heed to this Biblical warning and choose one’s friends wisely, because bad company can ruin your life as well. Often Christian youngsters feel they can be an influence among bad company, however, the saddest part is that they themselves get influenced and turn astray. So even though it is alright to go out with unbelieving friends, make sure you have a good set of believing friends who can stand by and with you at all times.
John 15:13
“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
Proverbs 18:24
“A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
Proverbs 17:17
“A friend loves at all times…”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!”
1 John 4:7
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”
Proverbs 27:6
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”
Proverbs 27:17
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”
Proverbs 27: 9
“Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; So doth the sweetness of a man’s friend that cometh of hearty counsel.”
Romans 5:10
“For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.”
Proverbs 28:7
“He who keeps the law is a discerning son, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.”
Proverbs 20:6
“Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find?”
James 4:4
“Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God.”
James 2:23
“And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.”
Exodus 33:11
“And Jehovah spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his minister Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the Tent.”
Proverbs 3:32
“For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah; But his friendship is with the upright.”
The verse, John 15:15 is one of the most encouraging Bible verses about friendship in the Bible. It goes like this: “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.” Is there a greater bond of friendship, than that which we share with our Lord Jesus? Just imagine, Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, the Savior of the world calls us His friends. He has stretched out His hand of friendship! Are we willing to give our hand into His outstretched hand and accept this awesome privilege?