Top 10 Suggestions for Getting Along with Others
- Ken Mettler
- Jul 27, 2025
- 7 min read
Relationships are a fact of life. They can’t be avoided. In fact, we’re made for three great relationships—with God, others, and ourselves. Even if you’re asleep, you’d still be interacting with people.
According to Dr. Gary Smalley, relationships touch us profoundly and there is no escaping that fact.
Since relationships cannot be avoided, how we deal with them is of utmost importance. If you want to be happier, you must be able to get along with other people. It will give you better respect for yourself as well as gain the respect of others with whom you interact.
This includes doing more than just going along to get along. Going along with people, especially those you don’t like, will not make you as content as getting along. Getting along is said to be “the world’s most needed skill.” (Earl Nightingale). He says that with that skill there is no limit to what a person can do. We just can’t operate all by ourselves.
A “skill”? The implication is that getting along well with others is something that doesn’t come immediately or automatically. So, how do you develop and use this “skill”?
I believe that the best and most productive way for getting along with others is when each one of us follows the guidelines of God’s Word—the Bible. As the Psalmist declared, “Thy Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path,” (Psalm 119:105). Our relationships with others will be brighter and healthier if we wisely walk in the light of God’s inspired Word.
In one of my resources, I came across, “Ten suggestions for getting along better with people.” (ref., “Bits & Pieces” published by The Economics Press). While looking at the list, I thought of many Bible references that shed a lot of light on how each of these suggestions can be applied. Here are the suggestions and the references just for you:
1. Guard your tongue. Say less than you think. James 1:26 People who think they are religious but say things they should not say are just fooling themselves. Their “religion” is worth nothing. James 3:8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is wild and evil and full of deadly poison. 9 We use our tongues to praise our Lord and Father, but then we curse people, whom God made like himself. 10 Praises and curses come from the same mouth! My brothers and sisters, this should not happen. (New Century Version)
2. Make promises sparingly. Keep them faithfully. Psalm 89:34 I will not break my agreement nor change what I have said. Proverbs 10:19 If you talk a lot, you are sure to sin; if you are wise, you will keep quiet. Ecclesiastes 5:5 It is better not to promise anything than to promise something and not do it.
3. Never let an opportunity pass to say a kind word. Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer will calm a person’s anger, but an unkind answer will cause more anger. Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, making people happy and healthy. Ephesians 4:29 When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need—words that will help others become stronger. Then what you say will do good to those who listen to you.
4. Be interested in others, their pursuits, work, families. Philippians 2:3 When you do things, do not let selfishness or pride be your guide. Instead, be humble and give more honor to others than to yourselves. 4Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others. 5 In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus.
5. Be cheerful. Don’t dwell on minor aches and disappointments. Romans 12:7 Anyone who has the gift of serving should serve. Anyone who has the gift of teaching should teach. 8 Whoever has the gift of encouraging others should encourage. Whoever has the gift of giving to others should give freely. Anyone who has the gift of being a leader should try hard when he leads. Whoever has the gift of showing mercy to others should do so with joy. 9 Your love must be real. Hate what is evil, and hold on to what is good. Philippians 4:8 Brothers and sisters, think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected. 9 Do what you learned and received from me, what I told you, and what you saw me do. And the God who gives peace will be with you.
6. Keep an open mind. Discuss but don’t argue. Disagree without being disagreeable. Philippians 2:14 Do everything without complaining or arguing. 15 Then you will be innocent and without any wrong. You will be God’s children without fault. But you are living with crooked and mean people all around you, among whom you shine like stars in the dark world. Ephesians 4:15 No! Speaking the truth with love, we will grow up in every way into Christ, who is the head.
7. Discourage gossip. It’s destructive. Proverbs 11:13 Gossips can’t keep secrets, but a trustworthy person can. A useless person causes trouble, and a gossip ruins friendships. Whoever forgives someone’s sin makes a friend, but gossiping about the sin breaks up friendships. 188 The words of a gossip are like tasty bits of food. People like to gobble them up. Gossips can’t keep secrets, so avoid people who talk too much. 2620 Without wood, a fire will go out, and without gossip, quarreling will stop.
8. Be careful of others’ feelings. Philippians 2:4 Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others. Ephesians 3:31 Do not be bitter or angry or mad. Never shout angrily or say things to hurt others. Never do anything evil. 32 Be kind and loving to each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ.
9. Pay no attention to ill-natured remarks about you. Live so that nobody will believe them. 1 Peter 3:13 If you are trying hard to do good, no one can really hurt you. 15 But respect Christ as the holy Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the hope you have, 16 but answer in a gentle way and with respect. Keep a clear conscience so that those who speak evil of your good life in Christ will be made ashamed. 4:2 Strengthen yourselves so that you will live here on earth doing what God wants, not the evil things people want. 3 In the past you wasted too much time doing what nonbelievers enjoy. You were guilty of sexual sins, evil desires, drunkenness, wild and drunken parties, and hateful idol worship. 4 Nonbelievers think it is strange that you do not do the many wild and wasteful things they do, so they insult you. 5 But they will have to explain this to God, who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the Good News was preached to those who are now dead. Even though they were judged like all people, the Good News was preached to them so they could live in the spirit as God lives.
10. Don’t be anxious about getting credit. Just do your best and be patient. Matthew 6:1 Be careful! When you do good things, don’t do them in front of people to be seen by them. If you do that, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 4 Your giving should be done in secret. Your Father can see what is done in secret, and he will reward you. Romans 8:25 But we are hoping for something we do not have yet, and we are waiting for it patiently.
Here is a summary of what I believe these ten suggestions are telling us, according to 1 Corinthians 13, “The Love Chapter,”
verse 4 "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. 5 Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not get upset with others. Love does not count up wrongs that have been done. 6 Love takes no pleasure in evil but rejoices over the truth. 7 Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always endures."
As challenging as these passages appear, when you seek God’s Power through his Son, Jesus Christ, you will be able to get along better with others and enjoy the benefits that come along with it. And others will benefit, too.
Lord, you have called us to be loving and kind! May I be that kind of person! Amen!
Good News to YOU!
Pastor Ken Mettler
This week at Faith Fellowship, 2497 State Hwy 35, Luck, WI
Saturday at 7 AM is Men's Breakfast / No 7 PM Worship and Prayer
Sunday at 9 AM is Sunday School / 10 AM is Worship Message: -The Son of Man: Human and Divine (Daniel 7)
( An Global Plan For Christ’s Intergalactic Glory )
Wednesday at 7 PM is Prayer Meeting / Friday: 7 PM is Prayer for the Nation
Faith Fellowship, 2497 State Hwy 35, Luck, WI
Ken Mettler, Pastor (715) 475-7666
PS
Christopher Boda is with us in St Croix Falls. Continue to pray that he will make contact with people who will catch His vision for supporting orphans and having Bibles printed in 150-million-person Banjara language... a huge unreached people group! He has planted 105 churches among this tribe, yet they have no Bible in their language. Please pray and help! Thank you!
BANJARA GYPSIES INTERNATIONAL. E -mail: banjara.gypsies.ministries@gmail.com. Address: Banjara Gypsies International, PO Box 822, Millsboro, DE 19966, USA.
Website:
Sample song:
Christopher will be in the US until August 5th.
Give me a call at 715-475-7666 or email me and you can schedule a time with our missionary from India.
Yes, he is willing to go anywhere in the US, so give us a call. Thank you!
Comments