1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. KJV
STEWARDS ARE ACCOUNTABLE.
Oftentimes, we read the parable of the talent as one of those parables of Jesus but we fail to realize that it is a parable illustrating stewardship.
In Matthew 25:14-30, a master who was traveling entrusted valuables to his servants. According to their abilities, he gave one servant five talents, the second received two, and the third received only one. Talent in context wasn't referring to gifts or endowment. It was in the 13th century English speakers and readers interpreted the parable of talent to mean gifts or endowment.
In the New Testament, a talent was a value of money or coin. Just as dollar is a value of money in the U.S. This master gave them money to trade with. The ones that received five and two talents multiplied it but the other servant buried it. The day of accountability came. The first two were commended for multiplying their talents while the latter was rebuked and thrown into outer darkness.
The first lesson there which we have learnt previously is that there is a "Master"( God) who entrust things to his servants( we, children of God) for proper use.
Stewards own nothing, God owns everything. God is our master, He owns all things (including silver and gold). His desire is that whatever He gives us, we use it as prescribed for His own glory.
Secondly, the lesson of accountability is clear from that parable. Stewards shall give account to God on how well they manage whatever is entrusted to their care. As stewards, we shall give account to God how we live our very lives: So then each of us will give an account of himself to God (Romans 14:12).
There's a judgement seat of Christ where every one of us will receive the reward of our
stewardship. In 2 Corinthians 5:10, Paul says, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." Pay day is coming. All you're doing for the Lord and His Kingdom isn't going unnoticed, pay day will come.
One may think that Pastors and preachers are exempted from accountability. Preachers will give account to God on how well they run their ministries and discharge their duties over the flock. The writer of Hebrews(13:7) says, "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you."
As a pastor, that church is not your church, it is for Christ. You're only a trustee who will give proper account to God. The offerings and tithe is not yours. God's money is not for the man of God, it is for God. He determines how the man of God will use it for His kingdom. If ministers understand this, greed will be far from them.
Your children are not yours, they are God's. What about your time, money and life itself? Often times, we sing songs telling God we give our lives to him but we hold back other areas of the very life we promised to give God. If only we realize that all aspects of our lives are under His watch awaiting the day of accountability, we'll live for Him fully.
And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4:13).