Please read the passage before reading the commentary
Everybody likes friendship. We all want friends, and we all want to be friends with others. The author of the Book of Sirach is no different in this respect from people like Aristotle and Xenophon, both of whom had some profound things to say about friendship. Perhaps the sayings of ancient philosophers like Aristotle and Xenophon influenced the thought of Sirach.
The Second Vatican council reminded us that people of other religious faiths have a share in truth and that truth is not found only in one particular religion. All share in the truth although we believe that the Catholic Church has the fulness in which all others share.
This does not make Catholics better than the others because the gifts we have come to us from the free hand of God. What each has received, each has received as only gift, not as reward.
The author advises us to seek friends from those who respect and reverence God. Bringing God into friendships helps us to have true and loyal friends. Without God in our relationships, we run the risk of losing sight of the true meaning and purpose of friendship. Friendships are made on earth in order to last in heaven.
May you treasure all your friends.