Is it more befitting to dedicate one's time to striving for a livelihood to acquire the money necessary for marriage, or to acts of worship, attending religious lessons, and remembrance of Allah?

Seeking beneficial knowledge and acting upon it is among the best acts of closeness to Allah, especially learning the individual obligations such as the rulings of purification, prayer, and fasting. The best way for a servant to draw near to their Lord is by fulfilling what He has made obligatory upon them. If an accountable person has fulfilled their individual obligations and is in need of marriage, then striving to acquire what is necessary for marriage takes precedence, and it may become obligatory if one fears temptation. Striving to earn lawful sustenance is commanded and does not contradict the remembrance of Allah and His worship; indeed, striving on earth to seek provision is akin to jihad. If you have fulfilled your individual obligations, then it is more appropriate for you to strive to acquire what will enable you to lead a chaste life, with the intention of guarding yourself from what is unlawful and becoming independent of others.