Human beings constantly face an internal struggle between the desire for spiritual growth and the powerful pull of material gain. In response to this conflict, a person asks for God's help to shape their inner will, seeking a natural preference for the Torah rather than an obsession with gathering wealth [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This obsessive pursuit of money can involve funds that are strictly forbidden [ביאור שטיינזלץ], or it can simply be the consuming hustle of chasing riches. Even if this lifestyle does not start out as outright theft, the constant focus on wealth can eventually lead a person down a dishonest path [מאירי].
The primary approach among commentators highlights a direct contrast between spiritual and material pursuits. Because God's teachings are infinitely more valuable than any fortune in the world [אבן עזרא], the prayer asks Him to remove the heart's eagerness to hoard money, allowing it to focus entirely on engaging with the Torah [רד״ק].
On a deeper level, this is not merely about avoiding material greed, but about purifying the reasons why a person performs the Commandments. The Commandments act as a testament to God's careful watch over the world and the reward He gives to the righteous. However, this reality presents a spiritual danger. A person might begin to serve God specifically for that future reward and personal profit. Therefore, the plea is to find joy in doing the Commandments purely for their own sake, rather than for the benefits and rewards they will eventually bring [מלבי״ם, אלשיך].
A unique perspective expands this warning to situations where a person has seemingly pure, religious intentions. Sometimes, people deeply desire wealth because they plan to use it for holy purposes, such as giving charity or honoring the Sabbath and holidays. Even in these cases, a person must direct their heart toward the Commandment itself, rather than obsessing over the physical money needed to perform it. Additionally, one must never make conditions with God—such as demanding wealth first in order to fulfill the Commandments later—and must be careful never to seek an easy way out by performing good deeds at the expense of other people's money [אלשיך].