Dr. Tan Tek Seng

DAILY REFLECTION
2 April 2026

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  
1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭

As a young Christian businessman eager to build a future grounded in faith and integrity, I once placed my trust in a Korean Christian businessman whose reputation appeared beyond question. Sadly, that trust was misplaced. I was defrauded of RM500k—a staggering loss that shook me deeply, not only financially but spiritually. The consequences were long and painful. For four and a half years, I laboured to repay the bank and rebuild what had been lost. Yet through this painful season, God used the experience to teach me enduring lessons about wisdom, discernment, and the cost of misplaced trust.

This journey brought into sharp focus the truth of 1 Peter 5:8. A sober and self-controlled mind anchors us in reality, enabling us to discern dangers and deceptions that might otherwise go unnoticed. In the marketplace, distractions can cloud judgment, pride can blind us to vulnerabilities, and complacency can lull us into a false sense of security. These are precisely the conditions that make us susceptible—not only to poor decisions, but to deeper spiritual compromise.

Sober-mindedness, therefore, is not optional; it is essential. It calls us to remain humble, alert, and disciplined in both thought and action. For marketplace believers, this means exercising discernment in partnerships, guarding our integrity in negotiations, and resisting the subtle pull of greed, fear, or ambition that can lead us astray.  As God’s workmanship, we are called to reflect His character in the marketplace—standing firm, acting justly, and leading with integrity in every sphere entrusted to us.

1 Peter 5:8 reminds us that vigilance is an intentional posture. It requires daily dependence on God, a renewed mind, and a heart anchored in truth. When we cultivate this spiritual awareness, we are better equipped to navigate challenges with wisdom and resilience.

“Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes." 
— Carl Jung