Friendship As Defined In the Bible
The Bible teaches us so many things. It teaches us to honor God, to obey our parents, and to love our neighbors. But aside from these, it also shows us the importance of friendship.
So what does the Bible say about friendship? What does it mean?
There are several stories about friendship written in the Bible. And with these stories, comes different lessons about friendship. Here are some examples:
Jonathan and David
The story of Jonathan and David is one of the most famous stories about friendship in the Bible. (Samuel 18-20) Jonathan was the son of King Saul, which means that he should have been the next king of Israel. However, God chose David instead. Saul did not want to obey God and had ordered to kill David. But, even though it means that he would never be king, Jonathan befriended David. He protected him from his father’s devious plans.
In Samuel 18:3 Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because “he loved him as he loved himself.”
The story between Jonathan and David teaches us that a true friend will always be a true friend and will love you as much as he loves himself.
Ruth and Naomi
The friendship of Ruth and Naomi teaches us loyalty and commitment. When Ruth’s husband died, her mother-in-law, Naomi, insisted that she leave and return to her family and start a new life. But even though Ruth had lost her husband, she did not want to lose her friend. She became faithful to Naomi and also said to her, “Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay.” (Ruth 1:16). Since then, Ruth and Naomi became inseparable and looked out for one another throughout their lives.
Job and His Friends
Job was a righteous man. God blessed him so much because of his faithfulness. However, he was put to many tests of his faith and loyalty. Job became ill and lost everything.
In Job 2:11-13, Job’s three friends went to him to sympathize and comfort him after they heard about all his troubles. This story teaches us that friends come to each other when one faces hardships in life. Being there for your friend at times of great distress can ease the burden and bring comfort.
But aside from these Bible stories about friendship, remember that the Lord Jesus Christ gave us the definition of a true friend. He sacrificed His life for us, His “friends.” In John 15:12-15, He said that we are His friends if we do what He commanded, and that is to love each other as He loved us.