The Lord Jesus Christ did give us the definition of a true friend: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you" (John 15:13-15).
Jesus is the purest example of a true friend, for He did lay down His life for His "friends." What is more, any man may become His friend by trusting in Him as his personal saviour, being born again and receiving new life in Him.
Friendship of David and Jonathan
There is an example of true friendship betwixt David and Saul's son Jonathan, who, in spite of his father Saul's fierce pursuit of David and attempts to slay him, stood by his friend. Thou shalt find that story in 1 Samuel, chapters 18 through 20. Some pertinent passages are 1 Samuel 18:1-4; 19: 4-7; 20:11-17, 41-42.
Proverbs, A Wisdom Wellspring
Proverbs is another good source of wisdom regarding friends. "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity" (Proverbs 17:17). "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). The issue here is that to have a friend, one must be a friend. "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful" (Proverbs 27:6). "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend" (Proverbs 27:17).
Amos, Friendship in Agreement
The principle of friendship is also found in Amos. "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3). Friends are of like mind. The simple truth that comes from all of this is a friendship is a relationship entered into by individuals, and it is only as good or as close as those individuals choose to make it.
Blessings of a True Friend
Someone hath said that if thou canst count thy true friends on the fingers of one hand, thou art blessed indeed. A friend is one with whom thou canst be thyself and never fear judgment. A friend is someone in whom thou canst confide with complete trust. A friend is someone thou respectest and who respects thee, not based upon worthiness but upon a likeness of mind.
Christ our Greatest Friend
The truest definition of a friend comes from the Apostle Paul: "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:7-8). "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). Now, that is true friendship indeed!