A close friend who has God's Holy Spirit is one of the most valuable commodities one could ever desire. God Almighty has set in motion the laws that bond one person to another and sustain friendship. Any alliance or friendship not based upon God's laws and principles will not succeed, and close friends should have an intense love for God's law. God's psychology insists that friends build up instead of tear down, emphasizing godly communication that involves sharing common interests, giving and accepting advice, offering and receiving criticism, and providing encouragement. A healthy relationship requires both giving and receiving, with the primary emphasis on the way of give. The ability to confide freely in another with no fear of betrayal is a mark of a mature friendship. Trustful confidence is a two-way street, and friends should love others as themselves to prevent betrayal of confidence. God Almighty, as the recipient of countless confidences, forgives and forgets transgressions shared with Him, setting an example for us to at least not spread sensitive confidences entrusted to us. Loyalty is perhaps the most desired quality in a friendship, where a Christian friend remains steadfast in both fair and foul weather, sticking closer than a brother born for adversity. Jesus Christ and God the Father have made such a commitment, promising never to leave or forsake us. If a friendship is based on the way of get, it will crumble under strain, but godly friendship, grounded in God's principles, is the cement that forges bonds within the Family of God. God's work is a love-building work, strengthening connections among all. A true friend, like God, does not view one's mistakes as permanent failures, and we should strive to emulate Him in our relationships.

Friendship, especially within God's church, is a vital part of our development and must be understood clearly. We are called to have the mind of Jesus Christ, and understanding our relationships with each other, as well as with those who will come after us, is crucial to thinking and acting like our elder brother, Jesus Christ. One of our goals should be to grasp what it means to be a true friend, particularly in the close bond of friendship within God's church. True and lasting friendship must be based on the understanding available to us only through Jesus Christ. The source of real friendship is our connection with Jesus Christ, which, through our calling and exposure to the truth, should bind us together with the same bond of affection to one another as it does with us to Him. This friendship requires tremendous effort to grow and strengthen over years of faithfully believing and living the truth together. It demands consistent dedication and self-sacrifice toward God and each other. This godly friendship is one that endures through the grave and into the resurrection for eternity. Jesus Christ is the friend of those who do the things He says, and as we are His friends, we must also be friends to each other. In this spirit, we can echo the sentiment of farewell with the hope of eternal connection, saying to one another, Goodbye friends.