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1 Peter 3:7 – Men and Women Are Different
Men are different from women. To us, this is nothing innovative, nor surprising, shocking or controversial. Emotionally, mentally, physically, and biologically the sexes are different. Ironically, our commonality is our dissimilarity. Neither sex is inferior or superior to the other…just oddly opposite. Poles apart like the North Pole and the South Pole. The poles are environmentally the same, and yet for some reason burley polar bears lives up north (men?), and cute little penguins thrive in the south (women?). Why? That’s God’s plan. Ladies, apparently God protected the little penguins from the hungry polar bears, but that same God designed us to not only live together, but to need each other. Can you imagine a bird marrying a bear? And some say God doesn’t have a sense of humor. Of course, a bird that can’t fly but swims is as confusing as women are to men!
Yes, the sexes are hilariously different, all according to God’s plan. These distinctions can be essential or beyond comprehension – especially concerning our own spouses. Some differences bring aggravation. Some bring smiles. Some bring smiles only after the aggravation!
Why is it that men, for example, refuse to stop and ask directions?
Ladies, before elbowing your husband’s side, why does it appear women are biologically driven to give directions to their men who are not asking? Sigh….
So, why do men not like asking for directions? It’s our need for respect, which is God-created. In asking for directions, we are admitting need.
So, why do women love giving directions? It’s their need for security, which again is from God. Giving directions is their way of doing what all women want to do when they get married – change their man until the women feel comfortable with their creation. Change, by the way is the last thing men want.
So, there needs to be balance. Sigh….
Don’t know about you and your loved one, but many of our arguments happen in the car! One time I tersely interjected into the…um, discussion… “Because I am driving and you are not!” That stopped the….um, discussion…plus all subsequent civil conversation as well. Well, I guess it’s time to turn on the radio….
For your information ladies, most men never consider themselves lost. At best we are just exploring, or at least just “temporarily disoriented” (a phrase coined by my Father). Daniel Boone, when asked if he ever got lost, thought for a moment and then replied, “No, I can’t say I was ever lost, but I was bewildered once for three days.” I guess Mrs. Boone wasn’t there to give directions.
Why, whenever there is car trouble, do men confidently tells our spouses to “Pop the hood” and with much machismo, look…even though many of us are more lost under the hood than behind the wheel? It’s our God-given ego! Getting a little grease on our hands makes us at least appear that we are competent – and that is important to our psyche. Give me car trouble, and I start looking, and tweaking, and either frustratingly give up or break something. Either way, if I can’t fix it, it’s not my fault – it because all these new-fangled cars are computerized – it’s a conspiracy.
Want to know why men can never find anything in the refrigerator or in our wives purses? It’s not an innate fear to bend over or actually move the mayonnaise. No, God genetically disposed us to be totally helpless in these realms. It’s not our fault, that’s how God created us! And women, it’s not like your purses are very organized anyway, containing everything from loose change (always in the bottom) to trash (always on top). To men, purses are the great Abyss. We may never return if we venture into that black hole. Safety demands we demurely hand over the purse to the female expert while patiently enduring her looks of bewilderment as she is astounded at our supposed incompetence. It’s not incompetence ladies; a man just has to know his limitations.
I even know of a man who got into trouble because he did exactly as his wife asked him! Not feeling well, she asked for his assistance. Would he take the laundry out of the dryer and put the clothes from the washer in the dryer? With much satisfaction of a job well done, he went back to watching T.V. Boy did he get into trouble! He didn’t get into trouble for what he did. He got into trouble for what he didn’t do. He didn’t put more clothes in the washer. He didn’t fold the dry clothes. He didn’t even turn on the dryer. He did exactly as his wife asked him – and no more. They never could agree who was wrong! (Shhh, I was right!) Men and women are different.
These differences can be exciting. Cling to the old French adage, viva la difference! They can also bring out other emotions, not all positive. Because of these multitudes of differences and because of our marital roles, God’s Holy Spirit, through Peter, commands husbands, to live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman (1 Pet.3:7) How serious does our Creator consider this? If we men do not heed this advice, our prayers will be hindered (1 Pet.3:7)
Men and women are different. It’s easy to get aggravated or even resent these differences unless we focus on the bigger picture – this is how God made us.
So let me close by saying, it’s not my fault!
Perry D. Hall
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