What Does Greatest In Heaven Mean?

Have you ever noticed how sometimes we equate one word with another without even realizing it?  I caught myself doing that with this verse.

Matthew 18:1-5(NKJV)

1At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

2Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 

3and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 

4Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 

5Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

Does greatest equal most rewarded in Heaven?  Does greatest equal most honored in Heaven?  What does it mean to be greatest in Heaven and what exactly is this verse trying to say? 

Here is what threw me about this verse.  I have written several times about all the verses in the Bible that tell us all who accept Christ are saved but that our rewards in Heaven will be different based on our works.  In my mind I equated greatest in Heaven with most rewarded.

My thought process being that if you got the most rewards in Heaven that would be an indication that you did the most for God.  Does that make sense?

Unfortunately I don't think that fits this verse because you don't see little children going out and doing a lot of work for God on their own.  Therefore I come to the conclusion that greatest in Heaven and most rewarded are not the same thing and that there must be another meaning to these verses.

So how about greatest in Heaven equals most honored?  I think it was James and John's mother who asked Jesus if He could promise her that her son's would sit at God's left hand.  Jesus told her that wasn't an honor (His words) that was His to give.

What does that tell us?  First that some will be held in higher esteem than others in Heaven.  But again, at least to me, that doesn't really make sense in the context of these verses.

So where does that leave us.  I think this is an allegory on the importance and value of faith.  Not just any kind of faith, but child like faith.  I think the greatest in Heaven will be those who lived their lives by faith in Christ.  Complete, total, faith in His ability to lead and direct your life.

Have you demonstrated that faith yet by asking Jesus to lead your life?  Why not?  God has a great plan for your life and it starts with accepting Jesus.  Just have a conversation with Jesus and ask Him to guide you and lead you.  "Dear Jesus…."

Does that mean you don't have to do any work?  Not according to Scripture.  Your reward is still based on the work you do.   It's just that with Jesus leading your life you are much more likely to be doing the work that God actually wants done.  Why?  Because you are following Jesus with childlike faith which makes it much easier for Him to direct you in God's plan for your life. 

Make sense?