Increasing Faith

Luke 17:5-6 (KJV)
And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

A legitimate question and one that concerns or should concern us all (c.f. Heb 11:6; Rom 1;17).
Yet the Lord's answer seemed rather puzzling, even irrelevant!
Isn't the mustard seed the smallest? And what of the analogy of a servant?
The point of the mustard seed was not it's size but the contrast in growth (c.f. Mar 4:30,31). That it must continue to grow in order to gain in strength. Which was really what the apostles were asking for - strength in faith. (to be able to forgive others!)
But how can it grow? The bible tells us faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Rom 10:17). Jesus further elaborates the fact that faith is not given but indeed has to be worked upon and that is an obligation, a given, the very purpose of the child of God.
Oftentimes, it is not that we have not "faith" but we are unwilingly to work on it, to put it to practice. James gave an excellent "worked example" in James 2:14 and following. The Hebrew writer highlighted the key to matured faith is "by reason of use (of the word)" (Heb 5:14).
Wherefore, let us not just ask and sit around waiting, but be active seekers of a growing faith, by continually applying God's Word to our lives, that is able to see us through the toughest times and darkest hours and most importantly, allow us to be acceptable in His Sight on that final day.