What the Bible says
Jesus said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13), and then He did it. To His disciples He said, “I have called you friends” (John 15:15). He is the “friend that sticketh closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). Every true friendship among believers flows from His: “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12).
God made us to need one another. “Two are better than one” (Ecclesiastes 4:9), “For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth” (Ecclesiastes 4:10). When David was hunted, Jonathan “arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God” (1 Samuel 23:16). That is the best a friend can do: point you to the Lord.
A true friend is honest. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful” (Proverbs 27:6), and “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend” (Proverbs 27:17). Choose companions with care, for “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed” (Proverbs 13:20), and “evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Corinthians 15:33).
Friendship is love in practice: “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2), and “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep” (Romans 12:15). The deepest friendship of all is friendship with God, entered by faith. Abraham “believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God” (James 2:23).
14 verses, King James Version
1 Samuel 23:16
Jonathan strengthened David’s hand in God
16And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
Galatians 6:2
Bear one another’s burdens
2Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Romans 12:15
Rejoice and weep with one another
15Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
James 2:23
Abraham was called the Friend of God
23And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Proverbs 17:17
Love in good times and hard
17A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
John 15:13–15
Jesus calls you friend
13Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
Proverbs 18:24
Loyal friendship
24A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Ecclesiastes 4:9–10
Someone to lift you up
9Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
Proverbs 27:17
Friends sharpen each other
17Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Proverbs 27:6
Honest wounds from a friend
6Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Proverbs 13:20
Choose wise company
20He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
1 Corinthians 15:33
Friends shape your character
33Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
1 Samuel 18:1–3
David and Jonathan
1And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house. 3Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
Romans 12:10
Devoted love, honoring others
10Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (public domain). Read aloud by Anthony.