Trust is the glue of life.According to Stephen R. Covey, "It's the most essential ingredient in effective communication. It's the foundational principle that holds all relationships."
In Patrick Lencioni's book, "Five Dysfunctions of a Team" he establishes trust as the fundamental ingredient and foundation to a healthy team. Without trust, no relationship will survive; nonetheless, thrive.
According to Lencioni, the absence of trust in a team (or any relationship) is destructive because where there is no trust there is no courage to be vulnerable. The strength of a team (and marriage) is collaborative synergy. Synergy is the cooperative action of two or more people--a team is more than the sum of its members. However, there is no oneness, no synergy without trust and the willingness to be vulnerable with one another.
Its been said, "An abusive relationship is one in which one person is afraid to express his or her feelings and opinions." Lencioni affirms this, and in a team dynamic such "abuse" is demonstrated in constant politicking--performing and pretending, not saying or doing what you think, but acting in a manner to curtsy favor or "keep the peace." In the absence of trust, abuse is a possibility.
From the beginning, the Enemy of God has purposed to exploit the fragility of marriage relationships, by driving a wedge of division between spouses, and dissolving any bond of trust. In the Garden of Eden, Satan succeded at sowing seeds of doubt in Adam and Eve. Their distrust of God's good and loving will fractured not only their relationship with God, but their relationship with each other. They immediately resorted to hiding from God and each other, covering their imperfections and frailties with fig leaves; followed by accusation and blameshifting. The bond of trust disintegrated quickly, and so did their relationship.
In the midst of their brokenness, God heralded good news--a way to restore trust, restore faith in God and each other--he preached the gospel and promised a coming Savior. He then removed their coverings made by human effort and covered their nakedness with "garments of skin and clothed them" after atoning for their sin with a sacrifice--foreshadowing the atoning sacrifice of Christ; the grace that would cover our sins--reconciling us to God, and opening the door for reconciliation of human relationships through the power of the gospel.
