bible verses about friendship for kids

Introduction: The Gift of Friends

Friendship is one of the most beautiful gifts God has given to us. From the moment we are born, we are created for connection, designed to walk through life alongside others. For children, the playground, the classroom, and the neighborhood become the first training grounds for learning how to love like Jesus. As parents, teachers, and mentors, we have the incredible privilege of guiding children toward biblical friendships—relationships that are built not just on shared interests, but on shared values and divine love.

In this article, we will explore what the Bible says about friendship. These verses are not just rules to follow; they are a blueprint for a joy-filled life. By teaching our children to be the kind of friends God desires, we are helping them build a foundation that will support them for the rest of their lives. Let us dive into the Word of God together to see how we can foster hearts that are ready to love and be loved.

Choosing Friends Wisely

Children often think that friendship is just about whoever is sitting next to them or whoever shares their favorite toy. While those are common starting points, the Bible encourages us to be mindful of the influence our friends have on us. Proverbs 13:20 says:

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

This verse isn’t meant to make children feel superior to others, but rather to teach them the importance of character. When we choose friends who love God and seek to do what is right, we find it easier to do the same. It is a lesson in discernment—encouraging children to look for friends who are kind, honest, and respectful.

Additionally, we must teach our children that their choice of friends impacts their own heart. Proverbs 22:24-25 warns:

Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.

This is a practical, pastoral warning. If we surround ourselves with people who are consistently angry or mean, we begin to mirror that behavior. We want our children to be lights in the world, and that starts by ensuring they are surrounded by peers who encourage their growth and integrity.

The Golden Rule of Friendship

If we want to know how to be a good friend, we need look no further than the teachings of Jesus. He provided the ultimate standard for how we should treat everyone, especially our friends. Matthew 7:12 states:

So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

This is commonly known as the Golden Rule, and it is the most important lesson a child can learn about social interaction. It changes the focus from “What can I get?” to “What can I give?”

When a child is hurt by a friend or feels left out, this verse serves as a powerful reminder to pause and reflect. Ask your child, “How would you want to be treated if you were in their shoes?” This builds empathy, which is the cornerstone of all biblical relationships. By practicing this, children learn that friendship is an active, intentional choice to treat others with the same grace and kindness that they desire for themselves.

Love That Stays Through the Storms

True friendship isn’t just for the sunny days when everything is fun. Real, godly friendship is tested when things get hard. Proverbs 17:17 teaches us:

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

This is a challenging verse for kids to grasp because it requires sacrifice. It means being a friend even when the other person is having a bad day, when they are sad, or when they make a mistake. It is about loyalty.

We can help children understand this by explaining that God is our ultimate friend who never leaves us. Because He loves us at all times, we can show that same love to our friends. When a friend is going through a difficult time—perhaps they are failing a class or struggling with a loss—that is the moment to be the most present. Teaching children to be “fair-weather friends” is easy, but teaching them to be loyal friends is a reflection of the Gospel itself.

The Strength of Two is Better Than One

There is a unique power in partnership. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 reminds us:

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

This imagery of picking a friend up when they fall is a perfect lesson for children. Whether it is literally helping someone up on the playground or figuratively helping a friend who is feeling down, we are designed to support one another.

God never intended for us to walk through life alone. By emphasizing this verse, we show children that their friends are teammates. They are there to share the load, celebrate the victories, and provide a helping hand during the defeats. This fosters a spirit of cooperation rather than competition, which is vital for building healthy, lasting friendships in a world that often encourages people to tear each other down.

Forgiveness: The Secret Ingredient

No two people are perfect, which means no friendship will be perfect. Eventually, a friend will say something unkind or do something that hurts our feelings. This is why the command to forgive is essential for any friendship to survive. Colossians 3:13 says:

Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

This is often the hardest lesson for children to learn. Their natural instinct when hurt is to retaliate or hold a grudge. As parents, we must gently remind them that forgiveness is not about saying what the other person did was okay; it is about releasing the bitterness so that the friendship can be restored. Just as God forgives us for our many mistakes, we are called to offer that same grace to our friends. Teaching children to apologize and to accept an apology is perhaps the most important skill they will ever learn for long-term friendship health.

The Value of Encouraging Words

Words have the power to build up or tear down. Proverbs 27:9 reminds us:

Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.

This tells us that a true friend is someone who speaks the truth in love. Children need to learn how to encourage their friends, whether it is cheering them on in a game or telling them they did a good job on a project. When we speak words of affirmation, we are acting as a source of “sweetness” in our friends’ lives.

We can encourage children to be intentional with their words. Instead of gossip or mean jokes, they can choose to be the person who says, “I believe in you” or “I like the way you played that game.” Ephesians 4:29 adds a beautiful layer to this:

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

This is the standard for our speech. If we teach our children to use their words to give grace, they will naturally attract friends and build deep, meaningful connections.

Bearing One Another’s Burdens

In Galatians 6:2, the Apostle Paul gives us a clear command:

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

For a child, a “burden” might look like a homework assignment they don’t understand, a fear of a bully, or the sadness of a move. When we teach children to notice when their friends are struggling, we are teaching them to be Christ-like. A child who learns to reach out to a lonely classmate is a child who is living out the Gospel.

This is where we move from casual friendship to deep, sacrificial friendship. It is moving from “How are you?” to “I see you are sad, can I help?” This practice transforms the classroom or the neighborhood into a community. It makes our children builders of peace. By bearing one another’s burdens, children learn that they are not just individuals, but part of a body that cares for its members.

Friendship with God: The Foundation of All

Ultimately, the most important friendship a child can cultivate is their friendship with Jesus. John 15:15 captures this beautiful truth:

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all I have everything that I heard from my Father I have made known to you.

When a child understands that the Creator of the universe wants to be their friend, everything else falls into place. They find their security in Him, which means they don’t have to be desperate for the approval of others.

If we want our children to be great friends to others, we must first help them nurture their friendship with God. They learn how to love by experiencing His love. They learn how to forgive by receiving His forgiveness. They learn how to listen by reading His Word. As they grow closer to Jesus, they will naturally become the kind of friends who are loyal, kind, and full of grace, because they are reflecting the character of their best Friend, Jesus Christ.

Conclusion: A Prayer for Our Children

Raising children to be godly friends is a long-term investment. It requires patience, modeling, and constant prayer. We cannot control who our children meet, but we can control the values we instill in them and the example we set in our own lives. As we look at these scriptures, let us be encouraged that God is working in the hearts of our little ones. He is the one who teaches them to love, to forgive, and to be a light in the lives of their peers.

Let us close with a prayer for the children in our lives:

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of friendship. We pray for our children, that You would surround them with friends who love You and seek to do what is right. Give our children the wisdom to choose friends who build them up and the grace to be a good friend in return. Help them to be kind, to forgive easily, and to speak words of life. May they learn to lean on You, their greatest Friend, so that they may always feel secure and loved. Let their friendships be a reflection of Your love to the world around them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Being a Loyal Friend

True friendship is defined by staying by someone’s side even when things get difficult. The Bible teaches us that a real friend is someone who is there for us through the ups and the downs, showing love that doesn’t quit. Proverbs 17:17 reminds us that a friend loves at all times, meaning we shouldn’t just be friends when it is easy or fun, but also when our friends are sad or struggling.

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

Kindness and Encouragement

Our words have the power to build others up or tear them down. As followers of Jesus, we are called to use our words to bring joy and courage to those around us. By being kind and encouraging, we reflect God’s love to our friends. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 tells us that we should look for ways to lift each other up every single day.

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

Forgiving One Another

Even the best of friends will have disagreements or hurt each other’s feelings sometimes. Because we are all human, we make mistakes. However, the Bible shows us that the secret to a lasting friendship is forgiveness. Just as God forgives us for the things we do wrong, we are called to be quick to forgive our friends so that our relationships can stay healthy and strong.