Bismillah.
Narrated Abu Huraira (radiallaahu `anhu):
Allah's Apostle (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, "By Him in Whose Hand my life is, it is better for anyone of you to take a rope and cut the wood (from the forest) and carry it over his back and sell it (as a means of earning his living) rather than to ask a person for something and that person may give him or not."
Narrated Az-Zubair bin Al'Awwam (radiallaahu `anhu):
The Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, "It is better for anyone of you to take a rope (and cut) and bring a bundle of wood (from the forest) over his back and sell it and Allah will save his face (from the Hell-Fire) because of that, rather than to ask the people who may give him or not."
It's better to work as a wood-cutter/seller than ask someone for financial help. Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) is encouraging self-help here. And looking at his life, we see how he used to do his own work instead of asking others for help. So it's not just about money. It's more general than that. Whatever it is that you CAN do yourself, it's better that you do do it yourself.
- Doing it yourself..
Ruling on beggary covered here.
Taken from: http://ilookilisten.wordpress.com/2012/12/09/self-help-ahadith-1208-1209/
