Peter admonished husbands to live with their wives "in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel." (1 Peter 3:7).
As I read this text, I wonder, "In what way is a woman weaker than a man?" I can only think of one in which a woman is weaker. A woman is, generally speaking, physically weaker. She is not intellectually, morally, or spiritually weaker. Few would argue otherwise. Peter wisely realized that people who have an advantage tend to use that advantage to take advantage!
We see it in school playgrounds where such behavior is observed on a daily basis. Where there is a power disparity, we see it abused. We see it in the corporate world and we see it played out between nations. Anyone who has a power advantage needs to be warned not to abuse it. This warning implies the question, "Can people with power be trusted not to misuse it?" Seldom.
If you are a married man and your wife earns more than you, she has a financial power advantage over you. She may have a prestige advantage over you. She may have an intellectual advantage over you. Peter was writing to men in a patriarchal and therefore sexist culture. He needed to remind even Christian men to behave well toward their wives. Women were among the marginalized. Virtually every opportunity for advancement was denied them- education, professional opportunity and more. Though there is still no shortage of sexism especially in the Church, the Western world has changed for the better. Had Peter been writing today, I am confident that he would have warned anyone with a power advantage in a marriage relationship (or any relationship) not to abuse it. In today's culture, we recognize that children are weaker and therefore need to be protected from abuse. In one dimension or another, men will find themselves to be the weaker vessel.
Scripture teaches that we must protect and honor the weak. Most of us find that we are simultaneously weak and strong. My wife Laura has certain strengths I do not have and vice versa. We must use our strengths to serve and not dominate. This is the way of Jesus.