Defiled Possessions

Numbers 35:34 KJV

Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel.

Barnes says of this verse, "An emphatic protest against all enactment or relaxation of laws by men for their own private convenience"

There is a reason not to defile that which God possesses

• The land of Israel
• The body of the saint
• The church of the living God

He inhabits these and He claims that is reason enough not to defile them through disobedience against or simple ignoring of those things He has taught in the Word of God. 

Our age is one of unrestrained pragmatism. Whatever accomplishes our own goals is absolutely acceptable. If our goal is considered to be a spiritual one we would even say that whatever accomplishes it is godly. We interpret the Bible according to those pragmatic ideals; The Bible couldn't possibly mean to keep us from doing things that are successful. Therefore those interpretations that restrict our success must be in error. 

We have defiled the possession of God in too many ways. It is time for us to set aside our goals and get back to God's Word.