In Luke chapter 8, Jesus says, “No one lights a lamp then covers it with a container or hides it under a bed. Instead, the person puts it on a stand, so that people who come in can see the light. Nothing is covered that will not be revealed, and nothing is secret that will not be known and come to light. So be careful how you listen. Whoever has something will be given more, but people who have nothing will have taken away from them even the things which they think they have.”
The message seems to be that some people have it, and some don’t. The ones who have it will get even more of it, while the ones who don’t have it won’t get it. The ones who don’t have it but think they do will lose even what they think they have. Jesus seems to be saying that you’re stuck where you are and can’t do anything to change it. This seems to contradict the rest of his teaching, in which he encourages people to change their way of living.
Perhaps Jesus is indicating that the light which shines from the lamp of a person’s life is powered not by the person’s own willpower, but by God’s. Most people try to get the light by trying to take control of their own lives, and they may deceive themselves, but the only way to get the true light shining from their lives is to give up control and allow God to light the lamp.