It must be the money
“An effortless livelihood is also a function of one's sexual purity. For with this quality, a person's livelihood comes to him like Manna, the ‘bread from Heaven.’”
“An effortless livelihood is also a function of one’s sexual purity. For with this quality, a person’s livelihood comes to him like Manna, the ‘bread from Heaven.’ But when a person’s livelihood is burdensome for him and comes to him with great toil, this is because he has not attained the General Rectification (of one’s sexual impurities).” Abridged Likutei Moharan (Lesson 29: 7), last parenthesis added by writer
I heard a Rabbi give a lecture about the merits of reciting the pitum hakatoret – the incense offering -during shacharit. This is one of the prayers in the Temple Offerings section right before pikeudei d’zimra. He talked in detail about its importance, suggested that we all take the extra time to recite them with 
concentration, and subtly mentioned that this prayer will help in one’s generating income.
concentration, and subtly mentioned that this prayer will help in one’s generating income.The audience suddenly came to life.
The Rabbi smiled and acknowledged, “I see I’ve got your attention . . . .”
It raises a big question. Are we allowed to take on mitzvot for the sake of “getting paid?”
The mitzvah of Shmirat HaBrit has very positive consequences on our livelihood. As we rectify ourselves in this area, the spiritual vessels that connect us to Hashem get cleaned out. The Divine Light that comes to us via these vessels can travel with greater speed and scale as these vessels are now unblocked.
This leads to great abundance in all areas of life. Spiritually we advance as we are able to pray with more energy and joy. We are blessed physically and intellectually as we receive more energy to attack the day, and our minds are able to tap into deeper and deeper levels of wisdom. Taking on the mitzvah of Shmirat HaBrit effects material abundance, as we can find ourselves blessed with more of what we need to take care of ourselves and our loved ones. There are so many incentives to take on the mitzvah.
The question remains: is it allowable to take on this mitzvah in the hopes that we will receive more money?
Yes and no.
Ideally, we should follow the words in Pirkei Avot (ch. 1, psk. 3), Do not be like servants who serve their Master for the sake of receiving a reward, but rather be like servants who serve their Master without the intent of receiving a reward.
There is also great merit in taking on mitzvot for material benefit.
In the Shema, we are commanded to love Hashem with all of our heart. Chovot HaLevavot brings down from the Talmud that to love Hashem “With all your heart means with both your inclinations, with the good inclination and with the evil inclination.” (Berachos 54a)
How do we do that?
If we invest too much of ourselves into generating money, honor, and success, eventually we get to a point where everything not geared towards these pursuits will feel like a burden to our life. If we worked 16 hours a day, six days a week, Shabbat could be seen as an inconvenience or a burden. If we achieve success in our careers, and consequently a lot more women start looking at us with a wanton eye, wearing a Kippa or growing a beard can become a severe drag on our lifestyle, Hashem forgive us.
This is exactly what Rabbi Moshe Feinstein warns us about. He states that the reason why so many Jews are leaving Judaism is because the children see that we have so little in joy performing Hashem’s mitzvot. We do them, but not with vigor, excitement, or gratitude. We focus our true passions towards politics, markets, and careers. Children, who perceive the truth in a very simple and straightforward way, see that our real joy lies at the office, and they do what comes naturally – they strive to follow in their parent’s footsteps and to make them proud of us.
From here we learn that the over pursuit of money and success are a function of the evil inclination. It is a ploy by the Satan to get us, and our children, off the derech.
But, hey – we gotta eat right?
All of us want to succeed. All of us want the satisfaction of knowing that all of our needs and those of our families will be provided for. Do we really have to associate the desire for material gain with the yetzer hara?
Yes we do – and that is why it is truly such a blessing!
When we take on the mitzvah of Shmirat HaBrit, and do it in no small part for the added livelihood, we are loving our G-d with all of our heart. We are loving Hashem with the good inclination, which demands that we come closer to Hashem spiritually by finding joy and gratitude in all the mitzvot, and, in loving Hashem with our evil inclination, that part of being that tells us in order to be happier, we need to make more money.
In learning a little about sexual purity each day, reciting the ten psalms of Tikkun HaKlali, and in guarding our eyes, we are acknowledging that it is Hashem which provides our livelihood and blesses us with our material success. We are sanctifying our yetzer hara by redirecting it to serve Hashem.
Now that we possess these insights, we must act. We haven’t a moment to spare.
We are approaching the ten days of teshuvah. Everything is determined at this time. Whether we will live or die in the next 12 months will be decided right now. How much money we make for the entire year will be decided right now. Whether or not we will continue to enjoy the freedom to choose Hashem and His Torah will be determined by the True Judge at this very moment.
Let’s pray for all of it. Let’s perform these great mitzvot for all the right reasons — and even the wrong ones! Let’s truly love G-d with all of our heart.
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