The blare of political rhetoric continues to crescendo as our next wave of would-be leaders toot their own horns ever longer and louder. When the candidates come together in their debates, you can brace yourself for the noise of clashing egos to be worse than the deafening decibels bleated out by those annoying plastic “vuvuzalas” at the World cup soccer matches.

Of course, this is hardly surprising — since what politicians run for is the opportunity to be “large and in charge.” In this week’s epistle text James offers a very different criteria for the faith community. He declares that those who claim to possess “wisdom” will be identified by something other than their own desires and ambitions.

James first offers the ironic question, “Who is wise and understanding among you?” The quest…