ARTICLES Priorities Of A Single Person - Part 1 by Goke and Jummy Adelabu Single people are always talking about knowing the will of God, and finding the right mate. Today we want to challenge you with the truth that the will of God is the Word of God; so, study the Word and you'll know God's will. Secondly, instead of looking for the right person, why don't you become the right person! There are people out there looking for you too! What does the Lord expect from a single person? How does He expect you to behave? What priorities has the Lord set for you? To be single means to be whole in Christ. First Corinthians 7:32 explains in summary the priority of a single person. It states that the unmarried person cares more for the things of the Lord! Is this true in your life? Further, I Corinthians 7:32 states that a single person has more time for the things of the Lord; unlike a married person who has to cook, clean, look after the kids, look after the spouse, be concerned about the lives entrusted in their care, among a few other responsibilities. Singles also have various responsibilities such as bills to pay, rent or mortgage, telephone, gas, electricity, to mention a few; but, we all realize that most married couples have to do all these and much more. "But without faith it is impossible to please Him [God]..." (Hebrews 11:6). This means, to please God you have to receive the Lord Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, believing that God raised Jesus from the dead when he died on the cross, to save us from our sins (Romans 10:9-10). Then, you have to learn to live by faith in the Word of God, not leaning unto your own understanding, for your everyday life. Priorities of a single person summed up in the word "SINGLE!" S -Separate yourself unto the Lord; I -Implement God's instructions; N -Never allow fear or doubt to control you; G -Glorify the Lord in your body; L -Live a life of love; E -Exercise patience and expect your miracle. S -SEPARATE YOURSELF UNTO THE LORD. Separating yourself unto the Lord is not your physical detachment from people; but, it is your change of attitude, character, feelings and behavior towards the things of the Lord. You separate yourself from the things that will not bring glory to the Lord. Jesus separated himself unto the Lord before embarking on the unique ministry that the Lord had called him to. He grew in wisdom yet he was in subjection to the Word of the Lord. Wisdom is our ability to make practical use of the Word of God for our present situation. In Matthew 4:4 Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3 when he said "...it is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that pro-ceedeth out of the mouth of God." You have to give yourself to God before you can give yourself to man! Apostle Paul, when talking about the brethren in the churches of Macedonia, said "...first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God" (II Corinthians 8:5). When you separate yourself to the Lord, God will never give you over to someone who will make a mess of your life! Romans 8:32 tells us that we got an all inclusive package when we got Jesus. God who gave us His only Son also freely gives us all things! Hallelujah! According to II Corinthians 2:15, as a result of your separation, you will become a fragrance of the Lord Jesus Christ before God among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. Unbelievers and believers alike will fancy you. They will see the glory of God in you. They will be attracted to you because of the sweet aroma of Christ in you, which is noticeable in the way you speak in love, walk in love and relate to others. People will be drawn to you, though in many cases they will later realize that it was the glory of the Lord that they were drawn to in the first place. You would then have succeeded in getting them saved and delivered from the hands of the enemy. In those that will be drawn to you, you will find and get married to the one person that's yours amongst them all. I -IMPLEMENT GOD'S INSTRUCTIONS. Be doers as well as hearers of the Word of God (James 1:22). Jesus said in Matthew 7:24 that whoever hears his teachings and does them is like a man who built his house upon the rock and even during a very bad storm the house stood firm because it was built on a strong foundation. In Joshua 1:8, the Lord advises us to be careful to do all that is written in His Word; and, in II Timothy 2:15 we are admonished to study the Word of God to show ourselves approved workers, not approved scholars. We study the Word of the Lord not so that we can memorize it but so that we can implement it in our daily lives. As a typist learns to type and spends time on the typewriter practicing so as to increase her speed, so should the children of the Lord be spending time in the Word of the Lord so that they will increase their accuracy in working out their own salvation. Goke and Jummy Adelabu are anointed to preach God's Word and teach God's plan for relationships and marriage. They are the founders of Married Couples International Network ("MCIN"), and International Family Health Ministry. For ministry materials and information or to schedule a meeting in your area, write to Married Couples International Network, P.O. Box 4516, London, England, SW9 7XF.                                                                                                  Copyright © 1994-2008Change The Image Ministries, Inc.