Regarding man’s righteousness; his ability to perform in this life in a manner worthy of God’s acceptance:

Man can learn to do many things.  He is able to build towering structures, both material and spiritual.  He is able to clean and maintain all that he has.  He can keep the streets clear of clutter.  And he can produce a life free of wilful sins.

But the righteousness that pleases God is more.  For man can only work with what he has been given. Man is born a receiver.  Nothing he can do that is “best”, is anything more than maintaining what he has been allowed to have.  Therefore, nothing “best” we can do is as “Best”, as God defines “Best”.

Jesus is the very Word of the Living God.  He has been so from the beginning of creation.  What He has done is God stuff.  His righteousness is not received, He is the origin of all that is purely Righteous.  He, being the first and direct offspring of God, is not a receiver.  He is a pure giver.

Can man possibly compete with that?  Is he even wise to try?  God Himself has proclaimed the place of Christ.  Who is man to challenge, with his uninformed mind?

Let Jesus be your righteousness.  Stop seeking to impress God.  Jesus is the only One who can do that.  TRUST!