Western civilization, particularly in the U.S., struggles with an unhealthy obsession with children, placing them at the center of life to the detriment of all else. Parents often neglect discipline, showering children with material goods and striving to keep them popular, which fosters selfishness. This idolization leads to parents becoming slaves to their children's whims, unable to bear their unhappiness, and prioritizing them over spouse and God. When children are worshipped, they grow up either incompetent and codependent or hostile and eager to escape smothering influence, leaving parents miserable. God commands that He be loved first with all that we are, not to neglect children, but to maintain balance by fulfilling our core need to worship Him. Ignoring this leads to worshipping other targets like children, resulting in degenerate side effects and warped personalities. Worshipping humans damages both the worshipped and the worshipper, creating unhealthy family dynamics. God's condemnation of Eli illustrates that honoring children above Him is unacceptable, as Eli prioritized his sons' lucrative positions over God's honor, failing to discipline them properly. Such misplaced priorities lead to resentment or heartbreak for parents and spiritual stagnation, pushing God to the bottom of their lives. God instructs us to love Him with all our heart, mind, body, and strength, making Him the source of our identity and fulfillment, while loving others as ourselves remains a secondary priority.