Religious poverty

Poverty, or lack of possessions, means total insecurity as to the future and inability to provide one's self with what are considered necessities. The more complex and sophisticated a civilization, the more possessions are considered necessary. In the spiritual sense, total lack of possessions and total trust in God to provide what is required, is an aid both in understanding the greatness of God and the insignificance of one's self (and thus achieving true humility); and in enabling one to accept everything as a gift from God, abandoning one's self to the will of God instead of depending on human guarantees and assurances. Religious organizations in the Christian church frequently include the observance of poverty among their vows, members having "all things in common", although this does not imply material deprivation.