When you think of Bible verses, what comes to mind? Religion, gratitude, inspiration, thankfulness, love, hope and prayer are probably all themes to come to your mind. In this article, we’ll explore some verses about being thankful for friendship.
With such a valuable and uplifting resource as the Bible you may like some others we’ve already shared with you:
- Calming Bible verses for anxiety
- Bible verses for low self esteem and confidence
- Beautiful positive bible quotes for spring’s renewal
- Bible verses for New Year’s resolutions support
But what about friendship? Hearing about friends and friendships in the Word of God probably doesn’t come immediately to mind, but there are plenty of Bible verses that have to do with just that. Good things about friends, being thankful for friendship, feeling supported, and being there for one another.
Blessings of Friends Brings Thankfulness For Friendship
So, which verses are we talking about? Here is a collection of scriptures that are perfect for when you need a reminder to be thankful for friendship in your life… or if you just need to remind yourself that you are a good friend.
We get to see how dear friends are the perfect gift from our great King and another way for us to receive his steadfast love. The good news is that these great friends who are true and encouraging through the difficult times can share in our joy during good times.
Throughout God’s word we have an opportunity also to see how Christ Jesus is our friend and redeemer. Through the word of Christ.and his actions we find the best ways to incorporate true friendship into our everyday life.
They’re also great verses to send to your friends, to show them how grateful you are to have them in your life! Or to read when you’re going through the ups and downs that come with friendship.
General Bible Verses Regarding Friendship
1) Job 16:20-21: “My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as one pleads for a friend.”
Pleading with God as one pleads for a friend. How powerful is that comparison?! Friendship is a strong, powerful thing.
2) Proverbs 17:9: “One who forgives an affront fosters friendship, but one who dwells on disputes will alienate a friend.”
A reminder of how important forgiveness is for friendship. If you dwell on the fight, and don’t forgive, you’ll alienate that friend, ruining that friendship. That’s how powerful forgiveness is.
3) Proverbs 27:6-9: “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. One who is full loathes honey from the comb, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet. Like a bird that flees its nest is anyone who flees from home. Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.”
I just love this comparison of friendship to happy, beautiful things like perfume and incense. All things that bring joy!
4) Proverbs 27:10: “Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family, and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you—better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.”
5) Proverbs 27:17: “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
A great reminder of how choosing the right kind of friends helps us become better people.
6) Proverbs 12:26-27: “The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. The lazy do not roast any game, but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.”
Another good reminder of the importance of picking good friends and being surrounded by good people.
Verses Showing Friends of Good Character That Make Us Thankful for Friendship
There will always be those close friends that show us what being thankful for friendship really means.
7) Proverbs 17:17: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”
8) Galatians 6:28: “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
A reminder we’re not meant to handle everything on our own. This is where friendships come in, we’re supposed to help each other.
9) Corinthians 13:4-7: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
I know, this is the quintessential “love” Bible verse. But why can’t it be used for friendships too, because they are grounded in love, right?
10) 1 Peter 4:8-10: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
11) Ecclesiastes 4:9-12: “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. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”
Friends help each other out and lift each other up. It’s essentially saying it’s a pity not to have any friends, and it really is a pity!
The Warning Signs and Reasons to be Thankful for True Friendship
Sometimes, friends are like those mentioned in these Bible passages. But, this makes us that much more thankful for true friendship.
12) Proverbs 16:28: “A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.”
13) Job 6:14: “Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
14) Proverbs 18:24: “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
You’ve probably heard the phrase “he’s like a brother” or “she’s like a sister” to me. This is so true and what this verse is also saying. We should all be so lucky to have a friend who is just as close, if not closer to us than a sibling.
15) Proverbs 27:5-6: “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”
16) Proverbs 22:24-27: “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared. Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you.“
On the flip side, this verse is a good reminder of the type of friends you should have in your life and the type of people you should be staying away from. We’ve already told you how friendships change in your 20s and this verse is another reminder of that.
17) 1 Corinthians 15:33: “Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.”
Friends should be good people that lift you up. Don’t be near someone who brings out the worst in you, but rather surround yourself with people who bring out your best.
Verses That Mention Specific Bible Friendships
Throughout the Bible we are shown examples of what friendship looks like. These are great models to build our friendships on and discover a better way we can be thankful for friendship.
18) 2 Kings 2:2: “Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Stay here; the LORD has sent me to Bethel.’ But Elisha said, ‘As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.’ So they went down to Bethel.”
Elisha wouldn’t live Elijah, just like true friends wouldn’t leave each other. They went down to Bethel, together, rather than needing to go alone. A good reminder when it comes to friendships, you’re in it together, going through the ups and downs and new adventures, together.
19) Job 2:11: “When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him.”
When Job was having a difficult time, his friends were there for him. To sympathize and comfort him. That’s what friends do – they’re there for each other not just in the good times, but especially during the difficult ones.
20) Job 42:10: “After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.”
Praying for friends – that’s strong. But the fact that our great God gave him twice as much as he had is even more powerful. The Lord gives friends as a blessing. Your friends are a blessing. Remember that!
21) Joshua 1:5: “No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Verses About Commandments of Love Between Friends
Above all, we are constantly reminded to strengthen our bond with friends. Let’s be sure we are supporting our friends so they can also know ways to be thankful for friendship. The power of gratitude can really be the best thing for a friendship.
22) Romans 12:10: “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
23) Colossians 3:12-14: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Forgive one another. This is one of the best Bible verses that acts as an excellent reminder when you are going through a difficult time with a friend and are having a hard time finding forgiveness within yourself.
24) 1 Thessalonians 5:11: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
25) John 15:12-13: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
A powerful reminder to always be there for your friends, no matter what difficult situations they’re going through.
A Prayer for Gratitude in Friendship
If you feel drawn to another form of gratitude for your friends consider prayer as a place to recognize this thankfulness for friendship too. Whether as a guide, or for inspiration, on how to pray about friendship, consider this prayer below.
Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you with a grateful heart to thank you for the good gift of friendship. Please continue to bless me with an attitude of gratitude for the wonderful deeds and unfailing love in the friendships you have given me. By your grace, may I recognize even the little things in friendship that can symbolize your spiritual gifts in my life. I pray that you provide strength in hard times so that I can be a blessings to my friends as they are to me. Let me express gratitude to these friends as well as a testament to your glorious name. Thank you for the inexpressible gift of friendship and may your Holy Name be glorified through our interactions. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
Final Thoughts on Being Thankful For Friendship
We hope these Bible verses were perfect reminders of why we can be thankful for friendship and how to model good friendship to others. Do you know any other verses that share about the blessings of friendship?
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About the Author
Michelle graduated from Fordham University with a Bachelors of Arts '13 and a Master of Arts '14. She's currently working in corporate America with a side of freelance writing. She wants you to learn from her experiences and mistakes so your 20s can be your best decade. When she's not working, she's likely planning her escape to a tropical island.