Western civilization, particularly in the U.S., struggles with an unhealthy obsession with children, often placing them at the center of life. Parents hover over their children, monitoring every move, showering them with toys and clothes to fit in, and striving to throw the best birthday parties to maintain popularity. They neglect discipline, resorting to bribes and pleading to avoid their children's unhappiness. This obsession leads to parents becoming slaves to their children, blinded to their bratty behavior while fixating on their triumphs and failures. When parents prioritize children over God, split loyalties emerge, with spouse and God trailing far behind, unable to imagine life without their children. This idolization results in stunted growth, leaving children either incompetent and codependent or hostile and eager to escape smothering influence. Such worship damages both parent and child, creating unhealthy family relationships and misery. God designed humans to worship Him alone, and when this core need is unmet, the drive to worship seeks other targets, often children, leading to degenerate side effects. When humans worship each other, including children, they become proud, rude, and unpleasant, whereas worshiping God fosters humility, kindness, and graciousness. God commands love for Him with all heart, mind, body, and strength as the first priority, with love for others as a secondary, limited focus. Valuing children more than their Giver disrupts this balance, pushing God to the bottom of the priority list and causing spiritual stagnation.

Fathers must be cautious not to provoke their children to wrath or discouragement through unwise childrearing practices. Indulging children, as seen in the example of King David, can lead to severe negative outcomes. David did not rebuke or question his children's actions, allowing them to have their way without correction. He was often uninvolved, neglectful, and preoccupied with his kingdom, prioritizing his throne over his family. This benign neglect contributed to the flawed characters of his children, such as Absalom, who became a narcissist and rebelled against his father; Amnon, who turned into a sexual predator; Tamar, who withdrew into desolation after trauma; Adonijah, who schemed for power and lust; and Solomon, who, despite his wisdom, became self-indulgent and a megalomaniac. David's lack of discipline and involvement allowed his children to grow without guidance, resulting in destructive behaviors and attitudes. Fathers must avoid such indulgence and neglect, ensuring they do not drive their children to negative reactions by being absent or overly permissive. Instead, they should balance authority with care, giving time and encouragement to build positive character in their children.