The Bible has a lot to say about friendship. Even though the phrase “a good friend is a blessing from God” is not explicitly stated in the Bible, it is still a scriptural concept. Many scriptures illustrate this truth in both the Old and New Testaments. Here are some of these verses and what they mean:
A good friend is dependable
“A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24
Solomon draws a contrast between many companions and a good friend. He says that even a man that has many friends can still come to ruin. The implication is that it would be expected that his many friends would help him in his time of need so that he doesn’t come to ruin. However, Solomon makes it clear that only a good friend can stick closer than even a brother. They will be there for you through thick and thin, no matter what. A good friend is someone who you can always count on, someone who you can trust with your life. They are someone who will always be there for you, no matter what. Solomon’s words are true. A good friend is a rare and valuable thing. If you are lucky enough to have a good friend, cherish them. They are a true blessing.
A good friend helps you improve
Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17
Someone once said that some friends make you bitter while others make you better. In the scripture above, the wise man tells us how one man can sharpen another as iron sharpens iron. The imagery is that of a file that is used to sharpen a knife. Similarly, a good friend will help you become a better version of yourself. They will challenge not only challenge you to improve but also help you on your journey toward improvement. You know you are in a good friendship if you are in a symbiotic relationship where you sharpen each other as opposed to a parasitic relationship where only one person benefits from the relationship.
A good friend demonstrates love through sacrifice
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
The scripture above was in relation to the impending death of Jesus Christ. He was explaining to his disciples that he had come to die for them and that it was the ultimate display of love. Until now, Jesus had related with his disciples as their master but by saying this statement, he was introducing them to a different kind of relationship – a relationship of friendship. We see this a few lines later in the same chapter.
No longer do I call you servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; John 15:15
We can learn from the example of Jesus that true love and friendship is demonstrated through sacrifice. Granted, you or your friends are not expected to die to demonstrate love. However, just like Jesus modeled, we can sacrifice our comfort, money, and time to demonstrate friendship.
A true friend loves unconditionally
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity Proverbs 17:17
A good friend loves unconditionally or to use the words of scripture, loves at all times. Some friends come and go depending on environmental factors. For instance, when things are going great, you can easily attract many false friends. However, it is when going through a night season that you know who your real friends are. A true friend will stick with you through thick and thin. They will remain loyal to you even when everyone else has abandoned you. There is another proverb that describes this kind of friendship. Check it out;
Most men will proclaim everyone his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? Prov. 20:6
To put it plainly, people can pretend to be friendly but not everyone will pass the test of faithfulness. A faithful friend sticks by you even when things go haywire.
A true friend is authentic
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. Proverbs 27:6
A true friend is real. They do not sugarcoat things to make you happy. They do not massage your ego because they are afraid to make you mad. On the contrary, they are willing to correct you in love. Sometimes, the correction may hurt but as the proverb above states, the wounds of a friend (who corrects out of love and genuine concern) are better than the kisses of the enemy which typically have a hidden agenda.
A true friend loves genuinely.
As soon as 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.” 1 Samuel 18:1
The Bible verse above is a great example of true friendship. Jonathan and David were best friends, and their love for each other was genuine. Jonathan loved David as much as he loved himself, and he was always there for him, even when David was in danger. The Bible uses the word knit to illustrate how close the two were – their souls were knit together. There is arguably no better illustration of genuine love and friendship.
Conclusion
True friendship is a gift from God. God will always bring people your way who will love you genuinely no matter what. Granted, you are also bound to attract lots of superficial friends – especially when you are successful in any area of life (ministry, career, academia, business, etc). But the real test of true friendship is when you go through a rough patch. Suddenly, superficial friends will find no reason to stick around. Meanwhile, the genuine ones will stick with you. These are the good friends who are a blessing from God and you should cherish them.
