What does the Bible say about friendship? Is it important? Do we really need to have community in our life? Let’s dive in and see what scripture has to say!

hand holding open Bible

A few years ago I battled constant, overwhelming anxiety. For an entire year I kept it to myself. I didn’t tell my husband, my family, not anyone.

There were many sleepless nights and even moments when I almost passed out from being so anxious.

I felt like there was something wrong with me. I was scared and ashamed, but I battled it in silence.

Why didn’t I share? I didn’t want anybody to know. I didn’t want them to think something was wrong with me, and I was too proud to share.

But after a year I had had enough and shared with my Bible study ladies one night when there were only a few ladies there. And you know what? Sharing opened up my heart and I felt peace and so much lighter.

It wasn’t until I shared with those ladies that the true freedom came. I want the same for you, friend!

You see, not only is my life proof that we need friendships but the Bible encourages us to be in community.

Let me show you what the Bible says about friendship.

3 Reasons Why We Need Friendship and Community In Our Life

1. We Weren’t Created To Do Life Alone

God created us to be in community with others. In fact, all throughout the Bible you see that God Himself is in community: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Even at the very beginning, in the garden, He gave Eve to Adam so that he wouldn’t be alone and would have a helper.

2. Friends Are Meant To Encourage Us

We weren’t meant to do this life alone!

Here’s the hard part. In order to be in community with others you have to be vulnerable.

Now, I’ll be the first to admit it’s hard to be vulnerable. Do you think it was easy for me to tell those ladies that I almost passed out from being anxious? It felt really weird. It felt very vulnerable. But I pushed through the awkwardness and I’m so glad that I did because I wouldn’t have been able to get the help that I needed had I not opened up and shared.

I was so encouraged when my Bible study ladies told me there was nothing wrong with me, that it was okay to feel the way I felt, and that they were going to walk with me through this.

Community is a great place for you to be encouraged.

Related: What To Do When Friends Don’t Understand Me

3. Friends Are There To Bear Our Burdens With Us

My Bible study ladies came alongside me. But do you know what else they did? They were there to bear my burden with me.

In Galatians 6:2 the Bible tells us to “Bear each other’s burdens“…carry other’s burdens.

In Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 it says “Two are better than one…if either of them falls down, one can help the other up.”

And then in Exodus 17:8-15 we see Moses leading the Israelite army with Joshua as the captain of the army. Moses says “We’re going out to battle and the Lord wants me to stand on this hill. Whenever I have the staff in my hand and hold it high we’ll win, but if it goes down we’ll start to lose.”

Moses asks his friends for help!

So Moses, Joshua and a few other men went up on the hill. Naturally, Moses started to get tired. What happened? The Israelites started to lose because his arms were going down.

Do you think that it was vulnerable for him to say “Hey guys! I need a little help here. My arms are getting tired but I want us to win. We need to come up with a plan to keep my arms up.”

So Joshua and the other men with Moses stepped up and helped hold his arms up…they came to bear his burdens with him.

If Moses wouldn’t have been vulnerable and asked for help to carry his burden these men may not have come alongside him.

We need to be like Moses and have people around us that can help hold our arms up when it gets too hard, bear our burdens with us, walk alongside us and encourage us in the rough moments of life. Yes they’re there during the easy and the fun moments of life but especially during those hard moments.

So who is it, friend, that you have that can hold your arms up?

woman sitting in a chair reading her Bible

Bible Verses About The Importance of Friendship

Matthew 18:20

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

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.

Romans 12:10

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Proverbs 27:17

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Proverbs 13:20

Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.

Galatians 6:2

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 

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.

For more Bible verses that share what a great friendship looks like and which ones we should avoid, head over to this friendship post.

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