God has blessed me with a good handful of people who I can call close friends, and even so close that I feel as if they are my real brother and sister( which they are in Christ, but you know). For a long time, I wanted ' friends' but what I really wanted was popularity because I was looking for quantity and not quality( not say you;re doing the same, but just giving some background here). I asked God for some real friends, and boy did he ever....
Having said that, the friends I have are just as it's described in the bible
1) Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Real friends stick with ya through the good and bad times, not just the good times. And I'm not alluding to the stupid saying of " a friend will bail you out of jail, but a real friend will be in the jail cell with you" type of friend the world might spew. I'm talking about a friend will love at all times by being your counselor when you're confused, a shoulder to cry on when you're sad and an encourager when things seem hopeless. Brothers are born for adversity, aka adverse times in your life. if a person show little interest when somethings bothers you or they give you flippant( not well thought out) advice, then that person is NOT a friend
2) Proverbs 18:24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Again, I had to learn this the hard way, it's quality not quantity that matters. A ' freind who sticks closer than a brother' is a strong statement meaning that no matter what you;re going to do, that f riend will be there for you. If you;re doing something stupid, that friend will be there to stop you. if you are about to taking on something huge, that friend will be there. etc etc.
3) Proverbs 19:4 Wealth brings many friends, but a poor man's friend deserts him.
Watch out for friends who only care about stuff you have. if you realize that your only connection to your ' friends' is stuff you have that you both do, then you might want to readjust how tight your ties are to them.
4) Proverbs 27:6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
People who only agree with you because it's convinient to do so aren't real friends. They will kiss up to you and make you feel good, but the"kisses' are shallow. Sometimes, when you;re going down the wrong path, a real friend will lovingly correct you, even if he has to do it a bit harshly (been there done that...)
I could go on, but Proverbs has so much in it about true friends. Of course someone who loves their neighbor( you) like themselves is also a good indication of someone who is a good friend. Someone who puts others before themselves. God has blessed me with such as these and I can;t be grateful enough about it!!
I hope this helps ^_^