Pastor Bimbo Odukoya of blessed memory shared a story in one of her sermons. It was about a sister who was with a brother for about four years. They went everywhere together and everyone assumed there was something serious between them that will lead to marriage.

On a certain day, Pastor Bimbo asked the lady when they would be getting married. The lady told her the brother hadn't proposed marriage. She counseled the lady to take him out to an eatery and ask who she was to him.

This lady did as instructed. When she asked the brother, he responded by saying "we are just friends". The lady was shocked. That was how four years of her single life wasted because she hung around a brother who who had no marriage intention for her.

This is one of the reasons I am not a fan of modern dating, a relationship without marriage commitment. The lives and time of many has been wasted in the dating pool. Many singles realized this later after their time has been wasted.

Dear single brother, stop hanging around a sister you have no intention of marrying. Your presence around her can send wrong signals to those who have marriage intentions for her. Do not be the reason another man's daughter is experiencing marital delay.

Also, she might assume you are interested in her especially If you have started using endearing words for her. The emotions of a single lady looking for husband is fragile. That little act of kindness shown to her or endearing words spoken can trigger assumptions.

Further, as a brother, you may have some sisters hanging around you, bringing food, calling and texting you. If you will not marry her, stop eating her food. Don't give her access that will make her assume you are into her. Politely, restrain her from your space.

To the single sisters, beware of brothers who hang around you forming a canopy or shade over you without a definite commitment to marriage.  They are time wasters.

Also, true commitment isn't just about asking for your hand in marriage and putting a ring on your finger. If he truly mean to marry you, he should be ready to declare the same intention to your pastor and parent.

As long as he doesn't want to meet those you are accountable to, he is a time waster.

If a brother hang around you for a few months and doesn't declare his intentions, feel free to ask him to define his relationship with you.