The rich young ruler and Jesus, Job and his 3 friends

How do we handle people who are justified in their own eyes?

We can look at the positive example set by our Lord Jesus when the rich young ruler confronted Him (Matthew 19:16-24, Mark 10:17-25, Luke 18:18-25), and the negative examples of Job's three friends, when they try to console Job.

The rich young ruler told Jesus that he was perfect in keeping Moses's Law (Matthew 19:20, Mark 10:20, Luke 18:21). Jesus did not challenge him on that point. Instead, He ask the rich young ruler to do something else, to sell all that he has and follow Him (Matthew 19:21, Mark 10:21, Luke 18:22). When the rich young ruler heard that, he was sad and went away, proving that his real god is his wealth (Matthew 19:22,Mark 10:22,Luke 18:23).

Job likewise tell his three friends that his dire circumstances were not caused by any sins that he has done. Job did not claim to be sinless, rather he was blameless. He felt that he did not deserve what as happening to him (Job 1:13-19, Job 2:7). But his three friends challenge him on that point, but they could not prove it.

When we meet people who are justified in their own eyes, we should not challenge them on their past accounts of their own goodness. How can we know their heart? We will end up debating with them about their past, trying to find fault with their lives, which was what happened to Job's three friends. We should ask God for wisdom and pose them new challenges so that they might know their own hearts.