It is true that whether someone will be wealthy or poor depends on his mazal, and that mazal cannot withhold his basic parnassah. If a person would be satisfied with having only what he really needed and didn’t pursue more and more, it would be impossible for him to be lacking his basic sustenance. “Hashem made mankind straight, but they sought many calculations.” That is to say, the person himself causes his problems with parnassah by pursuing more than the bare minimum.
(Based on Lechem Shlomo, Rav Shlomo Halevi Hazakein, siman 366)
We Need to Exert Ourselves for Parnassah in Order to Merit Doing Mitzvos
It is a wonder that man, who is the purpose of creation, needs to work hard to sustain himself, and his parnassah does not come right to his door. But we see the goodness of Hashem here, because if we did not have to work for parnassah, the fulfillment of many mitzvos would never take place. There would be no rich and poor and thus no need for the mitzvah of tzedakah, no need for emunah regarding loans and repayment of loans, and no need for tefillah, for man would be sure that his needs would be fulfilled and would not feel the need to speak to his Creator.
(Based on Beis Yitzchak al HaTorah, Hagaon Rav Yitzchak Shmelkes z”l, Beshalach, ma’amar 67)
One Should Exert Oneself for Parnassah
When a person sees how the ant, a tiny creature, prepares food in summertime for the winter, he can learn diligence from it. Hashem prepares sustenance for all His creations by giving them the instinctive means to seek appropriate sustenance at the right time. Therefore, a person, who was given intellect, should make efforts to sustain himself and not to be lazy. Hashem’s blessings bring wealth “in all the deeds of your hands that you shall do,” and not for one who sits and does nothing.
(Based on Sefer Ha’ikarim by Rav Yosef Albo, ma’amar 3, ch. 1)
Man Caused Himself to Lose Out
Man’s parnassah is what keeps him alive. If man would have been created without the means of providing his own parnassah, that would have been an imperfection in the Creation. That is why our Sages said, “Did you ever see a lion that had to find a job working for someone else?” Instead, each creature finds its sustenance without undue exertion on its part. Mankind, who is the jewel of creation, certainly should have his parnassah easily accessible. Indeed, this is how it was before Adam Harishon sinned. After his sin, however, he lost easy access to his parnassah. And if someone is wicked, he brings even more curses upon himself.
(Based on Maharal, Agadas Hashas Kiddushin ch. 2)
