Biblical Rules for Righteous Actions

What We Should Say

  1. Listen before responding. Listen carefully and understand what someone is saying before answering. (Proverbs 18:13)
  2. Be sincere and truthful. Give genuine compliments without trying to manipulate others. (Proverbs 26:28)
  3. Keep your promises. Think carefully before making commitments and be faithful to your word. (Ecclesiastes 5:4–5)
  4. Speak words of encouragement. Use your words to encourage, strengthen, and comfort others. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

What We Should Not Say

  1. Don’t talk too much. Avoid unnecessary words that increase the opportunity to say something wrong. (Proverbs 10:19)
  2. Don’t speak harshly. Avoid angry words that stir up conflict and provoke others. (Proverbs 15:1)
  3. Don’t answer before listening. Listen carefully and understand what someone is saying before responding. (Proverbs 18:13)
  4. Don’t make fun of others. Never ridicule or mock someone for their weaknesses or misfortunes. (Proverbs 17:5)
  5. Don’t flatter others for personal gain. Avoid using insincere compliments to manipulate others. (Proverbs 26:28)
  6. Don’t brag about yourself. Let others recognize your accomplishments rather than praising yourself. (Proverbs 27:2)
  7. Don’t make promises you won’t keep. Avoid making commitments you do not intend to honor. (Ecclesiastes 5:4–5)
  8. Don’t speak badly about others. Avoid slander, malicious talk, and words that unfairly damage someone’s reputation. (Titus 3:2)
  9. Don’t tear others down. Avoid words that discourage, belittle, or hurt others. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
  10. Don’t be quarrelsome. Avoid unnecessary arguments and the need to win every disagreement. (2 Timothy 2:24)

What We Should Do:

  1. Keep your promises. Be a person whose word can be trusted. (Psalm 15:4)
  2. Be a peacemaker. Look for ways to resolve conflicts rather than create them. (Matthew 5:9)
  3. Turn the other cheek. Don’t retaliate when someone mistreats you. (Matthew 5:39)
  4. Go the extra mile. Be willing to do more than what’s required. (Matthew 5:41)
  5. Love your enemies. Show kindness even to those who oppose you. (Matthew 5:44)
  6. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Practice the Golden Rule. (Matthew 7:12)
  7. Do good to those who mistreat you. Don’t let someone else’s bad behavior determine yours. (Luke 6:27–28)
  8. Don’t repay evil for evil. Choose to do what is right regardless of what others do. (Romans 12:17)
  9. Overcome evil with good. Never allow evil to become an excuse for doing evil. (Romans 12:21)
  10. Be generous. Give willingly and cheerfully. (2 Corinthians 9:7)
  11. Practice self-control. Don’t allow anger, frustration, or temptation to control your behavior. (Galatians 5:22–23)
  12. Be patient with others. Show grace when people make mistakes. (Ephesians 4:2)
  13. Be kind and compassionate. Show concern for the needs and feelings of others. (Ephesians 4:32)
  14. Be humble. Put others ahead of yourself. (Philippians 2:3–4)
  15. Do everything without grumbling or complaining. (Philippians 2:14)
  16. Forgive others. Don’t hold grudges or seek revenge. (Colossians 3:13)
  17. Don’t show favoritism. Treat everyone fairly and respectfully. (James 2:1)
  18. Help those in need. Don’t just talk about love; demonstrate it through your actions. (1 John 3:18)

What We Should Not Do:

  1. Don’t seek revenge. Leave vengeance to God rather than taking matters into your own hands. (Leviticus 19:18)
  2. Don’t follow the crowd into wrongdoing. Choose what is right even when others are doing what is wrong. (Exodus 23:2)
  3. Don’t be dishonest. Never cheat, steal, deceive, or take advantage of others. (Leviticus 19:11)
  4. Don’t hold grudges. Refuse to harbor resentment or bitterness toward others. (Leviticus 19:18)
  5. Don’t be lazy. Avoid idleness and neglecting your responsibilities. (Proverbs 6:6–11)
  6. Don’t be prideful. Avoid arrogance, conceit, and thinking you are better than others. (Proverbs 16:18)
  7. Don’t lose your temper. Avoid allowing anger to control your actions and reactions. (Proverbs 29:11)
  8. Don’t envy others. Avoid jealousy and resentment over what others have or accomplish. (Proverbs 14:30)
  9. Don’t mistreat others. Never deliberately harm, exploit, or take advantage of another person. (Zechariah 7:9–10)
  10. Don’t judge hypocritically. Avoid condemning others for faults you refuse to recognize in yourself. (Matthew 7:1–5)
  11. Don’t seek recognition for doing good. Avoid doing good deeds merely to gain attention or praise. (Matthew 6:1)
  12. Don’t worry about tomorrow. Avoid allowing anxiety about the future to consume your thoughts and actions. (Matthew 6:34)
  13. Don’t be selfish. Avoid putting your own interests ahead of everyone else’s. (Philippians 2:3–4)
  14. Don’t repay evil for evil. Refuse to retaliate when someone mistreats you. (Romans 12:17)
  15. Don’t conform to the ways of the world. Refuse to adopt sinful attitudes, values, and behaviors. (Romans 12:2)
  16. Don’t cause others to stumble. Avoid behavior that encourages or leads others into sin. (Romans 14:13)
  17. Don’t give in to temptation. Refuse to allow sinful desires to control your behavior. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
  18. Don’t associate with corrupting influences. Avoid relationships and influences that encourage bad behavior. (1 Corinthians 15:33)
  19. Don’t become weary of doing good. Refuse to give up simply because doing what is right becomes difficult. (Galatians 6:9)
  20. Don’t let anger turn into sin. Deal with anger before it leads to harmful words or actions. (Ephesians 4:26)
  21. Don’t steal. Never take what belongs to someone else. (Ephesians 4:28)
  22. Don’t harbor bitterness. Refuse to allow resentment, anger, and hostility to take root in your heart. (Ephesians 4:31)
  23. Don’t act out of selfish ambition. Avoid doing things merely to promote yourself or gain personal advantage. (Philippians 2:3)
  24. Don’t complain or argue unnecessarily. Avoid grumbling, disputing, and creating needless conflict. (Philippians 2:14)
  25. Don’t show favoritism. Never treat people differently because of wealth, appearance, or social status. (James 2:1)
  26. Don’t be a hearer only. Avoid knowing what is right without putting it into practice. (James 1:22)
  27. Don’t be quick to anger. Refuse to let frustration or irritation dictate your behavior. (James 1:19–20)
  28. Don’t repay insults with insults. Refuse to respond to mistreatment with more mistreatment. (1 Peter 3:9)
  29. Don’t love the things of this world. Avoid making worldly desires, possessions, and pleasures your highest priorities. (1 John 2:15–17)
  30. Don’t imitate evil. Refuse to follow the example of those who practice wrongdoing. (3 John 1:11)