"if you decide to die poor, a great many things can be done with your life". Heard it from a friend whose thesis advisor loved to say it occassionally.
Just staying poor and spending your whole days on searching for food (or a drink, or a dose) does not provide one with many opportunities to do interesting things with their life.
Giving is what makes a life great. But you have to have something to give first.
I think it can also mean that you are free to do things which are not possible if you chain your actions to the goal of financial success.