Bring an offering, and come into his courts! Psalm 96:8b
“In Christian worship the offering of gifts is an expression of gratitude and appreciation to God…The church certainly needs money, but the raising of money to support the church should not dominate the motivation in giving…The offering of gifts is a symbol of sacrifice; it is a positive act which symbolizes an inner attitude of homage…Worship needs the spirit of sacrifice. The offering of money in the offering plate is no less an act of worship than are the offering of songs, prayers and sermons…In Christian worship, making an offering is a symbolic act representing the giving of one’s self to God.”
Franklin Segler and Randall Bradley in Christian Worship: Its Theology and Practice (2006) 188-189.