Attribution

 The Pasuk in Parshas Ekev states:

פְּסִילֵי אֱלֹהֵיהֶם תִּשְׂרְפוּן בָּאֵשׁ לֹא תַחְמֹד כֶּסֶף וְזָהָב עֲלֵיהֶם וְלָקַחְתָּ לָךְ פֶּן תִּוָּקֵשׁ בּוֹ כִּי תוֹעֲבַת יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ הוּא

The pasuk warns Bnei Yisrael that they should not take any of the gold and silver that was part of the Avoda Zara because it will be an obstacle for them. פֶּן תִּוָּקֵשׁ בּוֹ. What does the Pasuk mean? What kind of obstacle? If it is not allowed that is fine but what kind of issue could it create? The Sforno has a very interesting insight that can be applicable to may situations. The Sforno says:

פן תוקש בו. שלפעמים יקרה שתצליח באותו כסף וזהב שעליהם ותחשוב שהיה זה בכח אותה העבודת גלולים שהיו עליה

God might (I am not sure if this would be intentional or not) make one very successful using those valubles and that person will attribute his success to that Avoda Zara. The Mokesh/stumbling block/obstacle will be his thinking that because he used Avoda Zara it made him successful and he will look to become closer to that Avoda Zara or he might lose his emunah in God. 

This thought can be applied to many situations. It might even be dangerous to go to a Rebbe for a Bracha because if the person who went for a Bracha was successful after getting the Bracha he might attribute too much of his success to the Bracha or Rebbe and not to God. It is much more so if the Pasuk is telling us that God tests us this way. Meaning that he will allow us to be more successful in ventures that are less attributable to him. This might be true not only when one is successful dishonestly but when one utilizes any tool that might seem less attributable to God.