God or children

I was reading in my one year bible today about Eli the priest and his two dodgy sons

1 Samuel 3:11- 14
"And the LORD said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family—from beginning to end. For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God, and he failed to restrain them. Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’”

OUCH! Full on stuff - why is this so serious? I think it is because Eli put the desires of his sons over what God had said. How can he say that God comes first when he is standing idly by when his sons dishonour Him.
Some might say that it was because Eli loved his sons too much, I'd suggest he loved both them and God too little and himself too much.
Far too often I see situations play out in the lives of people around me where God comes second place to children, with detrimental effect to all involved. This can be true of infertile people too, the desire for children can, if we allow it, become bigger than our desire for God.

The best thing any parent can do for their children is to put God first. I hope I remember that if God chooses to bless us with children.