Biblical Resources on Friendship

We all make various acquaintances throughout our lives—people who come into our circle for a season and then move on. With some, we’re content to let them go. But with others, we’re not. Once an acquaintance turns into true friendship, we hold on more tightly to that friend. A friend is a “favored companion,” for whom we feel “affection or esteem.”¹ Why is a friend favored? Most likely, it has much to do with how we feel when we’re with him or her. A friend accepts us as we are and is patient with our faults. A friend points out our strengths and rejoices at our successes. A friend’s presence and listening ear fill a void in us and give our lives a sense of validation and greater depth.

Do you have such a friend? Do you know how to be that friend? The resources on this page can help you recognize the need for friendship and develop the attributes that will make you a treasured friend to others.

A friend is always loyal,
and a brother is born to help in time of need.
—Proverbs 17:17 NLT