“Likewise you husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.” 1 Peter 3:7.

“…giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel…” 1 Peter 3:7b.

There, you see the wife is the weaker vessel. This proves that the man is superior.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7.

We are all seen as vessels before God. Not just vessels, earthen ones, with all the weaknesses, cracks, and flaws associated with literal pottery.

That God can work at all with such inferior material is quite a show of His infinite intelligence and patience. Just think of what could be accomplished with a good iron kettle or steel bucket.

“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.” 1 Corinthians 1:27-29.

What were we discussing, oh, yes the weaker vessel. Two earthen vessels, but one is weaker. Well we see that, “God has chosen the weak things”.

We are to give honor to the weak things God has chosen, especially knowing that we ourselves have nothing of which to boast.

Let us discuss this weakness; it is something we need to understand. Scripture tells us we are all vessels of earth. Which is not the best material, but useable.

Weak, man is weak, subject to death, disease, and the vagaries of sin. In fact one of the Hebrew words for man is enosh, which can be translated, mortal, frail, weak, and sickly.

“Can a mortal [enosh] be more righteous than God? Can a man [geber, strong man] be more pure than his Maker?” Job 4:17.

“What is man [enosh] that You are mindful of him, and the son of man [adam, human being, mankind] that You visit him?” Psalm 8:4.

Women are part of mankind so they fall into these categories too. However, the apostle says here that they are weak. This weakness is not in constitution for many women have the resilience of any sports hero.

Having babies is no walk in the park, yet they go through the agony and for the most part are out of bed in a day or two. Then it is on to a grueling schedule with baby that makes the husband secretly happy that he has to go to work.

Their reflexes are as good or better and they are as intelligent as men, yet often in different areas.

So what is weak? It certainly would not be their minds or their bodies. The end of 1 Peter 3:6 gives us a hint. “…whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.”

Fearfulness which has also been described as fluttering alarm, or consternation, brings about great terror in a woman’s life. “Men are taken hold of by anger, women by fear”, as one expositor wrote.

If you pay attention to television commercials or listen to a salesman, you will find them appealing to these fears. Are you riding on safe tires? Are termites eating you out of house and home?

The threat does not have to be real. It need only be made real in the woman’s mind. Men are a little more analytical and even careless in these areas.

If she trusts, your ability to analyze a situation, with patience you can steer her correctly. If on the other hand, you are a careless person, she may trust the salesman.

On these same lines, women tend to be gullible.

“And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.” 1 Timothy 2:14.

Now women are not perpetual victims, and in fact, one with a strong personality and an evil bent can wreak havoc in any arena.

Nevertheless, for every; Delilah (Judges 16:4-21), for every Jezebel (1Kings 16:29-19:3 and 21:1-24), for every Athaliah (2Kings 11:1-16); there is a Deborah and a Jael (Judges 4&5), an Anna (Luke 2:36-38), and a Mary and Martha (John 12:1-3).

Young men, what I have said to the women, I say to you. Beware; a pretty face will last only a few years. But an evil heart can last a lifetime. It is even possible for an evil heart to twist and distort a beautiful woman far sooner and worse than normal aging would do.

So there is good, there is evil, weakness, gullibility. When you see these traits try to keep them in perspective. Avoid a relationship with the evil entirely.

Do not disdain weakness, for she has strengths in areas in which you do not. In addition, remember a husband must tenderly reassure in areas of weakness building her up in Christ and helping her to know that Christ will not let her down.

As to gullibility, Scripture (see 1 Timothy 2:14 quoted earlier) says that Satan deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden. Adam took of the fruit knowingly.

This credulousness is a great source of amusement for some men. They say some outrageous thing to a woman who trusts them and then have a good laugh when she falls for it.

Playing to this trait is not funny. In fact, it shows a lack of respect for the woman. Hateful people who know a woman’s weakness have bilked many women out of their life savings.

A friend’s sister was widowed. Her husband was a wise man. He left her with a house and a great deal of life insurance. He had set her up for life. It was not long before she met this sincere, but vile person. When he was finished, he left with everything. She now has a job as a waitress.

Gullibility is not a source of amusement. You must guard your wife against it at all times. It can lead to apostasy, and great ruin.

“…as being heirs together of the grace of life…” 1 Peter 3:7c.

This is the essence of the Christian marriage. You are heirs together of the grace of life. You cling to each other; you lift one another up. If you are alone, or if you are in a marriage alone and you fall into some hole of despair, who will lift you up?

How can you be heirs together and not be equal? If you allow anger and resentment to take root, how will you be together? Anger and resentment will rob you of the grace of life.

“…that your prayers may not be hindered.” 1 Peter 3:7d.

Many Christians go through life thinking that mediocrity is the norm. “Well yes I’ve had some prayers answered, but you have to do everything yourself because God will only answer so many”.

Do you find that this is true in your life? You go to church; you tithe and read your Bible. Still God does not seem to pay a whole lot of attention. Most Christians today do not get their requests simply because they are too worldly. Many ask for things simply for their own lusts.

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” James 4:3.

Perhaps you are careful in all your ways. You can find no hidden sin, no covetousness, your conscience is clear, what is wrong?

Have you examined your attitude toward your wife? Are you guilty of any of the things in this discussion? Perhaps it is time for an attitude adjustment.

Marriage has become quite trivialized today and people think it is like any contract. If you tire of the conditions, some smart lawyer can get you out.

However, the ultimate idea of marriage is to typify the relationship between Christ and His bride, the church. I have trouble seeing what business some godless lawyer has tramping around in God’s garden.

But they do, and with the full approval of psychologist, Hollywood stars, liberals and a host of self styled experts on the subject. In short, this is the world’s viewpoint, and Scripture tells us not to allow the world to press us into its mold.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” Romans 12:2a.

To avoid being molded like clay, as we all have to some degree, God’s word tells us the following.

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8.

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:1-2.

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…” 2 Corinthians 10:4-5.

“Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Psalm 119:11.

If you do these things your worldview will change, and you will see things from God’s viewpoint. Not just marriage, though that is my point, but everything will start to make sense.

Maybe not all in your lifetime but enough so that Jesus’ words, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32 will start to give you an entirely new outlook.

I would like to propose the same thing to the men, as I did to the women in “Chaste Conduct Part 3” posted on 5-7-20. I want you to determine in your heart to treat your wife with understanding, giving her honor, both knowing her weaknesses and seeing her as a fellow heir of the grace of life.

This is unilateral, not if she does this, I will do that. Being an adult husband is not just having someone to keep house and raise kids, it is about taking on the responsibility of caring for another person, and perhaps children, as you would for yourself alone.

If you are single, you need to exercise extreme care in prayer for the right woman to marry, and in making sure you are ready to act like an adult (for the rest of your life).

Remember this, an adult is not someone who is 18 or 21 years old, an adult is someone who takes responsibility for his life, working, paying bills, being responsible for his actions.

Husbands, as I told the women, so you too need to be in constant prayer for your wife and this new attitude of care and cooperation.

“A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain [acquire] wise counsel, to understand a proverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:5-7.

“He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.” Proverbs 17:27.

“The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and it is to his glory to overlook a transgression.” Proverbs 19:11.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20.

Chaste Conduct Part 5 of 5 taken from godisrevealed.com posted on 3-8-14, updated on 5-13-20.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version, copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission, all rights reserved.