Proverbs 16:18 English Standard Version (ESV) Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

I play chess and on my best days I was a masters candidate. Few know exactly what that means but it is best understood by thinking in terms of who you will have to play to earn the title.

One night I attended a University of Texas chess club to see what kind of players I might have to match up against. I was watching others play being the odd man out. Then their masters candidate came in from his recent win in a Dallas tournament. Not wanting to interrupt play he asked me if I would like to play a game.

I beat him with a 5 move mating sequence that began with knight and queen sacrifices. It embarrassed him and he challenged me to play again. He was furious that he had lost to a nobody. So I sought to teach him a lesson. I didn’t even try. I made bad move after bad move letting him win easily three games in a row.

His ego was satisfied but the lesson never did sink in. Pride would not allow him to learn the lesson I tried teaching him. The player across the board is a person, not the enemy. How you treat people is more important than winning.

That night I learned that I did not want to be like that boy, full of himself to the point that no one else mattered. Being good at something doesn’t make you a good person. Having a title doesn’t mean you deserve respect. How you treat people matters. Sadly not everyone learns to be considerate of others just because someone shows you consideration.

There are hundreds of characters in the bible. Their mistakes are a warning of consequences. Don’t try to be better than them. Pride will lead you astray.