Do you ever wonder if you’re being a good friend?

If you’re an overthinker like me, you might spend time analyzing conversations with your friends.

Did I give the right advice? Was our time together enjoyable? Is our friendship healthy?

Too often, this thought process only ends in exhaustion and frustration. After all, each friendship is unique and comes with its own challenges. How can you really tell if you’re being a good friend to the people in your life?

When we need an example of a good friend, we don’t need to look any further than Jesus. The Bible is full of examples of how Jesus uses Scripture to both challenge and encourage his friends. We’re included in that category—Jesus himself says, “You are my friends if you do what I command you” (John 15:14 GNT). By following his example and his commandments in Scripture, we can find eternal wisdom for our friendships.

Here are five Bible verses to guide you in growing your friendships today!

Friends help each other.

Friendship is one of the deepest relational bonds God has given us. When we rely on our friends and they can count on us, together we can find the strength to continue through difficult situations.

Two are better off than one, because together they can work more effectively. If one of them falls down, the other can help him up. But if someone is alone and falls, it’s just too bad, because there is no one to help him. If it is cold, two can sleep together and stay warm, but how can you keep warm by yourself? Two people can resist an attack that would defeat one person alone. A rope made of three cords is hard to break.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (GNT)

Friends correct each other.

The Bible’s view of friendship is built on God’s ultimate truth. A real friend will always speak the truth in love—even if it hurts. By being honest with one another, we show our friends that we care about them.

Better to correct someone openly than to let him think you don’t care for him at all.

Friends mean well, even when they hurt you. But when an enemy puts his arm around your shoulder—watch out!

Proverbs 27:5-6 (GNT)

Friends speak the truth about God.

Good friends also speak the truth about God and his Word. In the book of Job, God rebukes Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar for being bad friends to Job. When these three men tried to comfort Job, they ended up misrepresenting the truth about God instead. We should always be careful to point our friends to God’s Word for comfort and encouragement in difficult times.

After the Lord had finished speaking to Job, he said to Eliphaz, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you did not speak the truth about me, the way my servant Job did. Now take seven bulls and seven rams to Job and offer them as a sacrifice for yourselves. Job will pray for you, and I will answer his prayer and not disgrace you the way you deserve. You did not speak the truth about me as he did.”

Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar did what the Lord had told them to do, and the Lord answered Job’s prayer.

Job 42:7-9 (GNT)

Friends encourage one another to do good.

As a friend, you have a unique opportunity to encourage the people in your life. What are their passions? What are their gifts? In our friendships, we should constantly be helping each other show love and do good, bringing glory to our heavenly Father.

Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another to show love and to do good.

Hebrews 10:24 (GNT)

Friends show their love.

Above all, friends should be characterized by their love. The Bible tells us that Jesus exemplifies this love in his sacrifice for us (John 15:13). Now, we can show love to one another by imitating Jesus and living out our love for our friends.

Friends always show their love.

Proverbs 17:17a (GNT)