So, does hard work yield rewards or are people fated to monetary status that comes their way?
Hard work is good. But it will only yield results on the physical plane. Spiritual work is just holding fast to God's grace. Most people think that since hard work in the physical world does somewhat correlate with more money in return, then working spiritually must bring God's favor. However, the rules are different.
Our bodies may, can, will and do suffer. Our bank account may empty well before the end of the month. These bad outcomes can be from lack of preparation, laziness, working in the wrong way or any number of screw ups. God may on occasion intervene in such times, but only to show His love. If nothing is changing, if nothing is going wrong, is nothing is really getting better, God is still there with a candle showing us that He cares for us even in the sameness of our lives. But we tend to not see God's love in the sameness. We see it much more easily when there is a dynamic situation: be it a hurricane or the birth of a healthy child.
God only cares about our finances because in His love He knows that we tend to care A LOT about our finances, so as any good friend, our interest becomes His interest. And He intervenes, but in love. Not to solve any problem other than our own distress pulling our eyes off of His love for us.
