The computer and the internet are the key ingredients that created the information explosion. But who created those two things? Well-known names like Steve Jobs (Apple) and Bill Gates (Microsoft) come to the fore, but the seminal developments began before them in a fascinating kaleidoscope of players, each making their mark at different levels. No one person gets all the credit or all the glory.

In his definitive book, “The Innovators,” respected historian Walter Isaacson tells of one example, an individual named John von Newman, the famed mathematician who was instrumental in developing the first truly programmable computer. This man was notable not only for his genius but also his character. In quoting another instrumental innovator (Jean Jennings), Isaacson writes:

[von Newman] was an amazing combination of a very brilliant man who knows that he’s brilliant, but at the same time is very modest and shy about presenting his ideas to other people.

I may not be able to relate to von Newman’s brilliance, but there are times when, to my chagrin, I fail to act modestly about my self-supposed brilliant ideas, solutions, and opinions. This tendency helps me, and all who join me in this stark fallibility, see more clearly the humbleness of our Lord Jesus Christ—who was far more brilliant than von Newman! In fact, our Lord is the ultimate exemplar of modesty, and we do well to emulate him:

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Phil. 2:5–8)

Of course, we can never be as humble as Christ because we don’t begin at the same place as He did. He came from a position of absolute and unmitigated glory but set aside the outward form of deity to become a human being, that is, part of His creation. We don’t have the capability of condescending that far! Any attempts at humbleness fall far short of His. But, praise God, He invites us to join Jesus as fellow modest-humblers. Of that, He is not ashamed, and neither should we be.

Lord, my efforts at humility can only take me so far; I ask you to help me learn to live humbly and modestly.