Jonah 4:10
Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night: Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:
The Lord points out that Jonah had pity on the gourd, though he had not labored for it nor made it grow, and though it came up in a night and perished in a night. His pity was self-interested and misplaced, for he valued the plant because it gave him shade. He grieved over the loss of the plant while failing to value God's mercy toward people, with his concern centered on his own humiliation.
God uses Jonah's concern for the brief-lived plant to expose his lack of compassion for Nineveh and to show that He Himself has far greater reason to spare Nineveh and its people. If Jonah cared for something he had not made, God had far greater reason to spare a great city with many people and many animals, also described as cattle. The people of Nineveh needed mercy and guidance, being ignorant and in need.
God's sparing of the city was the sparing of a repentant city. The verse teaches that God's people must care for those who are ignorant and in need. The contrast also highlights God's mercy in granting the world more time to prepare for Christ's coming, to hear the warning of judgment, and to be tested with greater light.