Therefore, rejecting all falsity and being done now with it, let everyone express the truth with his neighbour (Eph. 2:25a)
Trust, simply put, is the total belief, confidence and reliability placed on someone or something, a belief that someone will do certain thing(s) or not. While transparency means the ability to do things in an open, honest and clear way, without secrets, whereby your motives are not being questioned, because they must already know exactly what you are doing or trying to do.
In a relationship, trust is essential. It is actually a form of intimacy. You need to trust one another in order to make the relationship work and stand the test of time.
Trust is when you know and you are also assured that your spouse is dependable, that he/she can come through for you, be there for you and has got your back. He or she must belief the same with you too.
Trust and transparency, put together, means the ability for people to be confident in what you do, or what you intend or propose to do. Trust and transparency are both foundations of marriage.
Being honest creates a solid foundation in marriage, and this allows you and your spouse to maintain a healthy relationship. For example, when a couple already does things based on honesty, it will be hard for any outside force to come into their marriage, because being honest with each other alone shows that they are both united, and they regard, and respect one other.
Deception erodes trust and leads to a breakdown of the relationship. It is therefore important not to keep secrets. I am not saying, share every second or minute details about your life with your spouse; because that’s just not realistic, and it’s even impossible. However, there are some things that are just a must to disclose. These include: money, your differences, addictions, family, personality, and so on. In many cases, it is advised to share with your spouse things you know might impact on how you relate with each other.
When you notice you are starting to get attracted to someone else, either physically or emotionally, it is paramount you tell your spouse. Apart from your spouse having the right to know, telling even helps break up this attraction that might cost you your relationship.
You must let your spouse know of any ailment/health condition you might be going through. It is totally not fair to your spouse to come home one day and find you curled up in a foetal position, screaming in agony and pain, due to the fact that you’ve kept this ailment from him/her from its onset.
In marriage, ‘the two become one’ extends to your finances. Both parties will have to work together for the financial well-being of the family. It is important to share money issues such as large debts, bankrupts and credit issues, so that they can be addressed collectively.
Your hidden feelings should be communicated with your spouse, so there is no reason for it to be hidden in the first place. If you are carrying around baggage, resentment, forgiveness or anger towards your spouse, it is important you communicate it. The longer hidden feelings linger, the greater the likelihood that those feelings will compound and eventually erode the unity of the marriage. Marriage is based on mutual understanding, so it is important to share your most sincere feelings.
In conclusion, the whole essence of trust and transparency in a relationship is for your spouse to know what is going on with the real you, without being judged, and you getting the support your spouse can offer. People enter marriage with hopes that it will be loving, happily ever after, which can be achieved only when there are no secrets between you and your spouse. Secrets and its consequences can weigh a relationship down and/or kill it outright!
