Thankful For Friendship Bible Verses To Share And Treasure

This post shows how thankful for friendship Bible verses can serve as a roadmap for seeing, honoring, and treasuring the people God has placed in your corner.

How many times have you had a friend who passed unexpectedly, or a friend you lost touch with because life happened?

I attended a funeral this week of a friend. It is still hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that he is gone. True friendship is a precious gift from God that should not be taken for granted.

The sweetness of a friend is a treasure.

I am sure you will agree that real friends are there in even the most difficult times and see you at your worst, but still love you the same. Your best friends don't always have the perfect words, but they show unconditional love and are there when you need them most. They show up in the difficult situations, in times of need, and in everyday life.

A good friendship lives by the golden rule: treat others like you want to be treated.

The Holy Bible gives us a framework for life, including the kind of friend you should be and have in your life.

I am forever grateful for my dear friends. I would not be the person I am today if my friends hadn't continually pointed me back to Jesus in the darkest part of my life. They were there with me walking through it all. That is true friendship. Since that season, the Lord has blessed me with new friendships that are a gift, and although I may not tell or show them often enough, I treasure each one.

Let's dive into God's Word and look at thankful for friendship Bible verses together.

Proverbs 17:17

Proverbs 17:17 (NIV), A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

John 15:13

John 15:13 (NIV), Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Proverbs 18:24

Proverbs 18:24 (NIV), One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Romans 12:10

Romans 12:10 (NIV), Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

John 15:15

John 15:15 (NIV), I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

Proverbs 17:9

Proverbs 17:9 (NIV), Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

1 Corinthians 15:33

1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV), Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

Proverbs 13:20

Proverbs 13:20 (NKJV), He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.

Proverbs 16:28

Proverbs 16:28 (NIV), A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.

Proverbs 27:6

Proverbs 27:6 (NKJV), Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Proverbs 27:9

Proverbs 27:9 (NIV), Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.

Proverbs 27:17

Proverbs 27:17 (NIV), As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV), Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1 Peter 4:8

1 Peter 4:8 (NKJV), And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

Colossians 3:14-15

Colossians 3:14-15 (NIV), And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NIV), Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

When you have a friend in Christ, you have a gift from God. A friend who points you back to Jesus, prays for you, and is with you is a friendship you should treasure, honor, and appreciate. There is power when friends are together in the presence of the Lord. As Matthew 18:20 (NIV) reads, For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

A few examples of friendships in the Bible.

1 Samuel 18:1

1 Samuel 18:1 (NIV), After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.

1 Samuel 20:42

1 Samuel 20:42 (NIV), Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘The LORD is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.’ ” Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.

Ruth 1:16

Ruth 1:16 (NIV), But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.

Colossians 4:14

Colossians 4:14 (NIV), Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings.

Philippians 1:3

Philippians 1:3 (NIV), I thank my God every time I remember you.

What was your takeaway from these thankful for friendship Bible verses?

These ‘thankful for friendship Bible verses' taught us a lot about friendship. Feel free to comment in the section below what you learned from these Scripture verses about friendship.

My biggest takeaway is that real friends reflect God's character. Like God, they will never abandon you even in the worst circumstances. Having wise friends and good morals matter. It is important to build community, help each other, and be there for one another.

A faithful friend is not there for their own selfish ambition or their own interests, or just the good times, but with a pure heart in the good and the bad.

Here are some simple ways to honor friends, using these thankful for friendship Bible verses as our guide.

1. Write down a verse.

Take a verse that makes you think of a specific friend and write them a note with that verse included. Tell them why it made you think of them. A handwritten note with a Scripture tied to your friendship is something a person keeps.

My friend did this for me recently, and it meant so much! She always leads with love, points everyone she knows to Jesus, and always shows up. A blessing to everyone who knows her. I keep it on my desk, and it makes my heart smile.

2. Pray.

Think of a friend and pray for them, or better yet, pray with them. You can use a Bible verse as a template, like Philippians 1:3 (NIV), I thank my God every time I remember you.

So, the next time you pray, think of your friends, name them, and thank God for them. Doing this will rewire your heart and mind for gratitude. The people who love you well are a gift from God, and gifts are never meant to be taken for granted.

3. Tell them directly.

Say the words you have been meaning to say to them and tell them why you are thankful for them and what they mean to you. Not in general terms, but tell them specifically how they have shown up, made you a better person, and made your life better because of what they have done.

4. Choose loyalty.

Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do for a friend is simply sit and stay when someone is walking through a storm in life, or when things are complicated. Show up, point them back to Jesus, and remind them of His promises.

These Bible verses do not teach us to be passive when it comes to friendships. It is an active practice and should become a part of how you live.

My challenge for you and me is to be more intentional and show appreciation to those God placed in our corner. Pick one of these simple ways to honor a friend and begin today!

Tomorrow isn't guaranteed, as my friend who just passed reminded me this past week.

If you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your life, you can do so today.

You can invite Jesus into your heart just as you are. You do not need to have your life together.

He is a friend who will walk with you, talk with you, and be there in the good and the bad. He is faithful. The more you seek Him with your whole heart, the more you will witness the power of the Holy Spirit and feel His presence.

It is a free gift.

Talk to the Lord from your heart.

a Salvation prayer for you to make your own.

Christ Jesus, I come to you as I am a sinner, and I want you to be my friend and my Lord and Savior. I believe you died on the cross for my sins and shed your blood for me. Please, Lord, forgive me of my sins. I want to live my life for you. I believe you were crucified, rose from the grave, ascended to heaven, and left the Holy Spirit to live with me. Thank you for preparing a place for me to live with You in eternal life. Lord, help guide my steps in my new life with You. Thank you for loving me and forgiving me. Help me to trust You when I fall short. In Jesus' name, Amen.

If you just prayed and invited Jesus to live in your heart, welcome to the Kingdom of God!

We are celebrating with YOU!

You are not alone on this journey.

You may wonder where to begin your next steps in a new life in Christ. Please visit my GROW YOUR FAITH page, where you will find free resources. A 21-page devotional for your next steps, ways to get connected with an online community, and more.

It would also be an honor and privilege to celebrate with you and pray for you. Please visit my ROOTED IN PRAYER page, where you can fill out a simple form and let us know of your decision to have a new life in Christ.

Music is powerful.

What we listen to is powerful. Music is a universal language that is powerful enough to change your day. Music can take you back to a particular place or memory. It can stir up feelings and bring out emotion. Music can make you happy or sad, and it can also be an act of worship. We listen to the K-Love radio station in our home 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is always positive and encouraging, pointing us back to Jesus. If you have never listened to K-Love, I encourage you to listen and see how it transforms your days.

Here are a few songs I thought you might enjoy.

Friends by Michael W Smith feat Amy Grant

Somebody Prayed by Crowder

Somebody's Praying by Bay Turner

Lean On Me by Bill Withers