Self-Justification

So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. Job 32:2

Job was a good man, but Job was not perfect. Job had his sin, of which he eventually repented (Job 42:6). That sin was that he "was righteous in his own eyes" and "justified himself rather than God."

Many people behave as if one religion is just as good as another. The Bible certainly does not agree. Large portions of the Bible are devoted to condemning false religions, and this would not be the case if all religions were equal.
Much religion is a form of self-justification. Many highly religious people practice their religion not because they want to honor God but because they want to seek honor for themselves. This is true of religious people in general, and it is true of many who call themselves Christians.

What is the goal of our faith? What is the purpose of our Bible study? What is the aim of our worship? Are we trying to draw near to God? Are we seeking to praise his glory? Or are we seeking to justify ourselves?

"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:10-14