Why was John the Baptist the "least?"

"I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John, yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." luke 7:28

In one sense John the Baptist was the greatest. How was he also in another sense the least? Perhaps that honor and service on John's part, makes him the least in the Kingdom? Maybe because he didn't earn the right to minister, but it was a gift. What about those Christians who are less fortunate than John to know God, to walk with Him intimately and have his ear, to serve him uprightly? Are they the kind that are the greatest in heaven? The prodigal had no or little services for God to his credit when the RICHNESS OF GRACE was poured out on his life.

Maybe the (at least superficial) 'John the Baptists' of the church are only receiving 'less than the goat so that I can have a feast with my friends' as the older brother of the prodigal son admitted. As one of my LDS acquaintences reminded me often, "Of whom much is given, much is expected." (Williyum) Paul even said that he gets no reward if he discharges his responsibility to preach the gospel; it is the minimum he can do considering the mighty gifts he had been given in Christ.

Those who prove to be good stewards in the small things are given more to manage. So the one who gives the most back at the end of the stewardship is both the most bankrupt in himself but also offers the greatest gift to the owner.

How much more potential do we have to glorify God, when we have more to offer up in obedience to His will? Does this make us great? In one sense. But in the temporal it makes us POOR. For the goodness we have received credited to us at the cross we credit back into God's account by our boasting in Him.

John said to his followers, "Behold; the Lamb of God.... It is him you must follow now. He must increase as I decrease." And that is why he is the greatest of men.

It was because he had given all the glory to God like a true and faithful servant, that he was called the least. He left no room to secure his own name, his own legacy, his own perpetuity, his own band of admirers. He let his earthly life be bankrupt for the sake of making rich Jesus Christ.

For those who cannot attain to such an honor as the greatest man who lived, there is a separate special honor reserved for them.