Every person who has ever lived – with the possible exception of Adam, Eve, Cain, and Abel – have heard their parents admonish them about the choice of their friends. It is always an important issue. In the first century, James addresses the issue of friendship with his audience in the context of their submission. If believers are going to be pleasing to God in their conduct, they will have the right friends. James discusses this by highlighting the wrong friends. In other words, James tells them which friends to avoid.