What is Friendship?

Friendship: Feeling of affection , of esteem, of reciprocal dedication between people.

What is the value of a friendship?

A true friendship has a lot of value, because a friend is capable of letting go of his peace to face by our side every difficulty that arises in front of us. In fact, those who have good friends will never feel alone and will always receive unconditional love that you will hardly find elsewhere.

What does the Bible say about friendship?

The Bible shows you that friendship is very important and we are encouraged to make friends and take care of them (Proverbs 27:10). Friendship brings people together and can create very strong bonds.

God created man as a social being, to have healthy relationships with other individuals. Therefore, He puts special people in our path, friends who improve our lives and fight on our side when necessary (Proverbs 17:17). Friendship is a way of expressing love.

God's purpose for friendship is for human beings to be happier, having help in the most difficult moments of life (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10) and being a blessing in the lives of others. Friendship is very important and should be cherished.

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is made in trouble" (Proverbs 17:17). Loyalty is part of a genuine friendship, whether in good times or bad.

False friendships

Some people want to induce us to sin against God. "My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. If they say, 'Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us wantonly ambush the innocent; like Sheol let us swallow them alive and whole, like those who go down to the Pit: we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with spoil; throw in your lot among us, we will all have one purse' — my son, do not walk in the way with them, hold back your foot from their paths; for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood" (Proverbs 1:10-16). Sadly, we see the same spiritual tragedy in many people's lives today. become drug dealers, under the influence of 'friends'? How many join gangs and end up committing various types of crime?

Some friendships need to be avoided entirely: "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, does not stand in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers" (Psalm 1:1). When others want to lead us astray, we need to run away: "Flee the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge. The wisdom of a prudent man is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving. God scorns the wicked, but the upright enjoy his favor" (Proverbs 14:7-9).

Some of the most dangerous friends are those who always agree with us, supporting us even in the wrong things. "It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of a fool" (Ecclesiastes 7:5). A true friend corrects us, and a wise person seeks friends with courage and conviction to correct him when necessary. On the other hand, the fool avoids people who correct and criticize, looking for approval above wisdom. "A scorner does not love the one who corrects him, nor will he draw near to the wise... A wise heart seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly" (Proverbs 15:12,14). No one likes to be corrected, but we all need friends who love us so much that they point out our mistakes: "Better is an open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds inflicted by a friend, but the kisses of the one who hates are deceitful" (Proverbs 27:5-6).

How to be a good friend?

Since we choose good friends, we must be good friends! Scripture counsels us about the responsibilities of faithful companions. Friends rely on each other's presence: "Better a neighbor near than a brother far away" (Proverbs 27:10). "A friendly look makes the heart glad; good news makes the bones strong" (Proverbs 15:30). On the other hand, we must not abuse friendship, causing annoyances: "Do not be frequent in your neighbor's house, lest he be angry with you and hate you" (Proverbs 25:17). We must not forsake or betray our friends (Proverbs 27:10). True friends are not self-seekers, but those faithful companions who stay in good times and bad: "A friend loves at all times, a brother is made in trouble" (Proverbs 17:17). True friendship brings mutual benefits: "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens his friend" (Proverbs 27:17).

Who is my best friend?

The Lord Jesus Christ gave us the definition of a true friend: "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you" (John 15:13-15). Jesus is the pure example of a true friend, for He laid down His life for His "friends". Furthermore, anyone can become His friend by trusting Him as their personal savior, being born again and having new life in Him.

Finally, the true definition of a true friend comes from the apostle Paul: "Hardly would anyone die for a righteous person; for it may be that someone would dare to die for a good man. But God proves his own love towards us by the fact that Christ died for us, while we were still sinners" (Romans 5:7 -8). "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for one's friends" (John 15:13). He is the One! He is our best friend!

Text friendship in the Bible

Ruth 1:16-17

But Ruth said, "Entreat me not to leave you or to return from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God; 17where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if even death parts me from you."

1 Samuel 18:1-3

When he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day, and would not let him return to his father's house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.

Proverbs 17:17

A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for trouble.

Proverbs 18:24

A man who has many friends keeps them to his ruin; but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 22:24-25

Do not make friends with the hot-tempered; nor walk with the choleric man; lest you learn his paths, and take a snare to your soul.

Proverbs 27:5-6, 9-10

Better is the open rebuke of the than covert love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Oil and perfume make glad the heart; so is a man's sweet advice to his friend. Do not forsake your friend or your father's friend; neither enter thy brother's house in the day of thy adversity. Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away.

Ecclesiasted 4:9-10

Two are better than one, for they have better reward of your job. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion; but woe to him who is alone, for if he falls, there will be no one to lift him up.

John 15:15-16

No longer do I call you servants, for a servant he does not know what his master is doing; but I called you friends, because everything I heard from my Father I made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

Romanos 12:10

Love one another cordially with brotherly love, preferring one another in honor.