I discovered that I did not need to find my
identity. I needed to learn what my father, A.W.
Copeland, knew.

At one time I rebelled against him. I dishonored
him. I didn’t give him authority over me. Oh, up to a
point, I did. I gave him authority and dominion while
I was in his presence. But when I got out of his sight, I
did whatever I wanted to do.

The things that my father taught me and practiced
in front of me were for my benefit. They were honorable
things. I finally came to the point where I realized
I was being stupid. I was out trying to learn things
the hard way that my father already knew. I realized
I could learn them from him and not have to pay the
price of learning them for myself.

I came to understand that I could start my own
life of learning after I had learned what my father
knew—and I could get his years of experience free of
charge and in a whole lot less time than it took him
to learn it.

The reason some children of successful men and
women are not worth much is that they don’t bother
to learn what their parents know about building a life
or a business. In some cases, their parents fail to instill
it in them. Often, children set out to learn for themselves
rather than let the Lord teach them.

I found out when I went to college that if I didn’t
learn from God, I wasn’t going to learn a thing in college.
I came to see that honor was the answer—honoring
God, honoring His Word and putting it first
place in my life. Please don’t take me wrong.

I am not underestimating the value of a college education. But
if what a person learns at the university does not conform
to the principles of God and His honor, then it
is not an education. It is really just a head full of nonsense—
useless facts and procedures.

Wisdom Will Put You Over

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the
man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise
of it is better than the merchandise of
silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She
is more precious than rubies: and all the things
thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left
hand riches and honour (Proverbs 3:13-16).
It is not knowledge that will put you over the
top—it is wisdom.

Wisdom is the God-given gift to know what to do
with knowledge. Wisdom gives understanding. There
is in God a wisdom understanding of honor.

When you have a godly understanding of honor,
it takes away the fear of acting on it. In the next chapter,
we will learn more about the kind of honor that
comes only from God.

Kenneth Copeland Ministries